News, 23/2-2/3/02

As the story stands at the present time, the United States is feverishly

producing unimaginable quantities of weapons of mass destruction with the

express intention of wiping out what is left of a country which for

eleven years has been deprived of the means of providing for its own

defense (and its own health and its own economy). The pretext is that

this country, Iraq, might have put together some bits and pieces of

weaponry 'illegally' which would constitute a 'threat' to the United

States which is therefore acting in self defense. The rest of the world

is reacting to this by putting on a very stern face and insisting that

Iraq must change its wicked ways and prove to everyone's satisfaction

that it really does not possess any means of self defence at all (except

the equivalent in our day and age of a few bows and arrows). The

situation is totally ludicrous, but no-one is laughing. All the world

leaders behave as if they are thoroughly cowed ‚ perhaps 'terrorised' is

the appropriate word. There are some who argue against an attack, at

least until it is proved that Iraq has been wicked enough to get hold of

a few weapons, but the arguments are weak. They have already accepted the

inconceiveable wickedness of the sanctions system which doesn't leave

them with very much to say. And one argument in particular is never

heard: that Saddam Hussein cannot be overthrown without killing many

thousands of people. The people in question are of course only Iraqis and

what is worse, mostly young men and boys wearing uniforms. So their

lives, like those of their nameless and uncounted Afghan equivalents are

worth about as much as the life of the average native bearer in a Tarzan

film. They're just part of the scenery.

INCITEMENT TO HATRED

*  Rumsfeld for stiffer weapons inspections in Iraq

*  UN inspectors in Iraq would be a waste [This article proposes (and

indicates that D.Rumsfeld is of this opinion) that the US should just

skip the phase of cooking up a pretext (return of the weapons inspectors)

for going to war. Other articles this week however - for example 'U.S.

demands on Iraq may be tough to meet' - explain that the toing and froing

over weapons inspectors will buy time while the US develops even greater

stocks of weapons of mass destruction.]

*  U.S. demands on Iraq may be tough to meet ['Before resorting to

military action, the administration wants to be able to say that it tried

other options. Diplomatic efforts also provide time for the United States

to prepare for military action.']

*  Road to peace runs through Baghdad [This is probably the nastiest

article in a week when the competition has been pretty tough. The general

thesis is that Iraq needs to be smashed for Israel's sake, since there

can be no hope of peace in Israel until the entire Arab and Muslim world

is reduced to a state of hopeless defeat and demoralisation.]

*  U.S. Gathering War Crimes Evidence Against Iraqi Leaders

*  Experts concerned about Iraqi weapons program [Guess who? 'David Kay,

a former senior United Nations arms inspector and an advocate of prompt

military action against Iraq' and 'Former biological weapons inspector

Richard Spertzel'. These are the people we were supposed to believe back

in 1998 were impartial scientists!]  

*  Negroponte Says U.N. Council "Skewed" On Middle East [Negroponte, if

I'm not mistaken, played a role in the Reagan government policy of

supplying weapons of mass destruction to Iran at a time when Iraq was

defending the entire Middle East against Islamic fundamentalism; in order

to raise money to finance the terrorist campaign that was being waged in

Nicaragua. He says: 'the United Nations will not help achieve peace by

"taking sides."' ... 'The ambassador called on Israel only to maintain

Arafat's "infrastructure" so that he can effectively enforce security in

Palestinian territories.' ... '"We do not pursue a policy designed to

injure the Iraqi people" etc.]

URLs ONLY:

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/cdh/20020226/lo/hastert_revolt_in_iraq_may_be_best

solution_1.html

*  HASTERT: REVOLT IN IRAQ MAY BE BEST SOLUTION

by Eric Krol

Yahoo (from Daily Herald), 26th February

[Denis Hastert, US House speaker, does not give the impression he has

devoted very much thought to the matters under discussion]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la

000015015feb28.story?coll=la%2Dnews%2Dcomment%2Dopinions

*  LET'S ROLL AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN

by David McCormick

Los Angeles Times, 28th February

[Saddam should be overthrown because he might have weapons which he might

give to terrorists.]

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

*  America's laser of death cleared for take-off

*  Joint Chiefs chairman: U.S. military ready to act against Iraq

*  Rumsfeld has doubts about Iraq inspections

URLs ONLY:

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=208492002

*  HUGE MILITARY MACHINE HONED FOR FINAL SHOWDOWN

by Tim Ripley

The Scotsman, 23rd February

[Military speculation. Mr Ripley informs us that the US will probably use

planes and some ground forces.]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58051-2002Feb23.html

*  ANTI-IRAQ RHETORIC OUTPACES REALITY

by Walter Pincus and Karen DeYoung

Washington Post, 24th February

[Takes time to produce weapons of mass destruction in sufficient quantity

‚ assessing this 'n that ‚ Cheney's middle east tour ‚ INC ‚ Kurds ‚ 'The

head of the London office of the Supreme Council of the Islamic

Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), the only credible armed group among southern

Shiites, said nothing had changed in their arms-length relationship with

the United States. SCIRI's main patron is Iran, which was angered last

month when President Bush named Iran, Iraq and North Korea the "axis of

evil."' (Interesting to note that this terrorist organisation has a

London office) ‚ Middle East bases - what would it take on the ground.

All pretty predictable, but this is the first time I've seen it said

that, during the 'Gulf War': 'U.S. and coalition forces lost 86 aircraft

during that effort, one-third of them in the first few weeks of the war,

and most of those were low-flying aircraft, hit by Russian and Chinese

versions of the shoulder-launched, U.S.-made Stingers.']

DOUBT AND QUERY [with regard to opinion in America I've only noticed one]

*  Somerville rep blasts Bush talk on Iraq war [because there won't be

enough money left over for local road and bridge projects in

Massachussets.]

AND, IN NEWS, 23/2-2/3/02 (2)

IRAQI OPPOSITION

*  MPs mark 14th anniversary of Iraqi chemical attacks on Halabja

*  The Kurds' "Axis of Evil", USA and " War on Terrorism" [Kurd writer

proposing that the US should adopt as a war aim the establishment of an

independent Kurdistan, simultaneously taking on Turkey, Syria, Iraq and

Iran]  

*  After Saddam [Gives a brief account of possible successors. Of Nazar

Khazraji it says: 'The main Kurdish parties, the KDP and PUK, apparently

support him, but a smaller Kurdish group has sought to have him

prosecuted for war crimes. This relates to his alleged role in the use of

chemical weapons against the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988. Gen

Khazraji says the allegations have been invented by Iraqi intelligence

services.' Presumably the story about Halabja could only have any

credibility if he actually did serve in Northern Iraq/Southern Kurdistan.

So why should the KDP and PUK - both - support him?]

*  Former Iraqi Officers to Meet in Washington [Up until now the idea of

getting a crowd of Saddam Hussein military minded Sunni Muslim lookalikes

together was the State Department's' idea, in opposition to the Defense

department, which seemed to be pro-INC (which includes, theoretically at

least, Kurds and Shi'i, who may not be too keen on 'former Iraqi

officers' etc). It was therefore surprising to see that this meeting is

here said to be convened by the INC. Less surprising to see later

articles in which the State Department claim that the INC had jumped the

gun in pretending that they were going to be allowed to do anything so

important as to convene such a meeting.]

*  Iraqi military opposition to host DC conference [Here the meeting is

being convened by the INC but might not have the financial support of the

State Dept (though given the INC's budget, why should it need additional

funding from the State Dept?)]

*  U.S. stirs efforts to oust Saddam [Here the Iraqi opposition meeting

is being convened by the State Dept, not by the INC: 'a senior State

Department official said the Iraqi group would not act as the host.']

*  U.S. ponders anti-Saddam transmitter near Iraq [I thought the one

thing the INC had done was to establish an anti-Saddam radio station. If,

after all these years and all that money, they haven't even got that far

...]

*  Self-Help Strategy For Iraq [A more interesting case than usual for

the overthrow of S.Hussein, from Ayad Alawi, of the Iraqi National

Accord.]

URL ONLY:

http://www.washtimes.com/world/20020227-73785539.htm

*  U.S. MEETS GROUPS OPPOSING SADDAM

by Barry Schweid

Washington Times (from ASSOCIATED PRESS), 27th February

['Small groups of American diplomats and intelligence analysts infiltrate

northern Iraq periodically to confer with Kurds and other opponents of

the Baghdad government in an attempt to unsettle President Saddam

Hussein, U.S. officials confirmed yesterday ...In December, a State

Department group headed by American diplomat Ryan Crocker went to

northern Iraq to help pull together Kurdish and other anti-Saddam forces.

It was the last such trip by U.S. officials, but there were several

earlier and they are likely to happen again, said a U.S. official,

speaking on the condition of anonymity.' Rather a non-story, what?]

LESSER BREEDS WITHOUT THE LAW

1. BRITAIN

*  Blair and Bush to plot war on Iraq-paper [This is a better account

than the original Observer article (see URLs only), making it more

obvious that no-one, not even the 'senior government official' has

actually said that Blair and Bush are plotting a war on Iraq. One

imagines that if Bush is plotting such a war, Mr Blair will be informed

of the fact, eventually. The article refers to the promising signs of

Labour opposition: 'Labour MP and former minister Joyce Quin said only

concrete proof that Iraq was supporting terrorism or developing "new and

dangerous weapons," could justify military action.'. But it seems to me

improbable that a country threatened with imminent annihilation by a

quantity of weapons of mass destruction unknown in the history of mankind

‚ and deprived by a craven 'international community' of the means of

defending itself ‚ would not be making some effort to develop 'new and

dangerous weapons.']

*  Blair tries to steel MPs for possible attacks on Iraq [It is a curious

thing that a vast majority of MPs belonging to the ruling party say they

are opposed to the use of British facilities for the use of the proposed

US missile 'defence' system; and yet no-one doubts for a moment that

British facilities WILL be used for the proposed US missile 'defence'

system. Its called democracy (or rather 'freedom of speech' according to

the principle of Frederick the Great: 'My subjects say what they like; I

do what I like.') Interesting quote from Rumsfield: 'Mr Rumsfeld also

said yesterday that he would be happy to return British prisoners being

held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as long as Britain agreed to prosecute them

and make them available for further questioning by the US.' He presumably

said this the day before he announced that the US wouldn't be prosecuting

them because they didn't have any evidence.]

*  Support for a US assault on Iraq could rip Labour apart [An optimistic

view that there is sufficient decency in the Labour Party to cause TB

some serious trouble. Personally I think they will all rally round in the

end, but its good to see someone with the spirit to hope for something

better.]

*  Caution urged over Iraq [Views of Donald Anderson, Menzies Campbell

('the UK's approach to world matters tended to be "more mature" than the

US approach' !), George Galloway (pity to see him apparently taking the

'war against terrorism' rhetoric seriously.)]

*  Iraq asks UK to pinpoint weapons sites

*  Britain Sets Conditions For Possible US Action Against Iraq [Hoon

seems to be suggesting he might take up Iraq's challenge to come and look

at possible weapons of mass destruction sites. Though after seven years

of co-operating with UN weapons inspectors - until the US replaced them

with a bunch of spies and made it clear that the process would be endless

‚ its a bit rich to say: 'they have consistently refused to allow U.N.

weapons inspections.']

*  Blair urged to resist US 'hawks'

*  PM faces dissent on Iraq after supportive words for Bush's fighting

talk

URLs ONLY:

http://observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,656231,00.html

*  BLAIR AND BUSH TO PLOT WAR ON IRAQ

by Kamal Ahmed

The Observer, 24th February

[A large percentage of this week's articles were spawned by this, which

contains no hard information whatsoever. A more interesting summary will

be found in the Reuter's account 'Blair and Bush to plot war on Iraq ‚

paper']

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=217712002

*  PLAY IT COOL: UNITED STATES WARNED NOT TO LAUNCH ATTACK ON IRAQ

by Alison Hardie

The Scotsman, 26th February

Gives story of Kofi Annan advising against an attack, then adds this

amusing little tidbit: 'A Downing Street spokesman played down

suggestions that the UK would support a US attack on Iraq. He said: "We

have always said that there would be a second phase to the battle against

terrorism, but what 11 September showed us is that the Americans are

carrying this forward in a way which takes account of the views of the

coalition partners.'

http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3629QR4YC&live=t

ue&tagid=ZZZPB7GUA0C&subheading=UK

*  BLAIR WARNED AGAINST SUPPORTING US MOVES ON IRAQ

by Andrew Parker, Political Correspondent

Financial Times, 26th February

[Despite the headline this is mainly about Blair's desire to go to war

but doesn't offer any more hard facts than the Observer article. It does

however include this paragraph, suggesting in an amusingly straightfaced

manner that Britain might, on questions of this sort, have a mind of its

own: 'Britain is leaning towards support for US military action against

Iraq because of mounting evidence that Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi

president, has developed weapons of mass destruction. The UK is also

increasingly convinced that attempts to contain Mr Saddam have failed.']

http://www.reuters.co.uk/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=643117

*  BLAIR BACKS BUSH ON WEAPONS TALK

Reuter's, 27th February

['Asked in an interview by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

whether he agreed with Bush that there was an axis of evil, Blair said:

"I certainly agree with him very strongly that weapons of mass

destruction represent a real threat to world stability. I think it's

important that we act against them. ...  Weapons of mass destruction

..."are a real threat. George Bush is right to draw attention to that.

... Those who are engaged in spreading weapons of mass destruction are

engaged in an evil trade and it is important that we make sure that we

take action in respect of it ... He is right to raise these issues and

has our support in doing so ... "'  From which one  might conclude, if

one thought Mr Blair was aware of the meaning of the words he uses, that

Britain was about to dismantle its huge weapons of mass destruction

industry and export business, and put pressure on our American friends to

do the same.]

2. EUROPE

*  German defense minister urges international pressure on Iraq Berlin

*  German secret service cites Iraq's renewed work on nuclear program

[Funny how the German BND always seem to pop up with its tail wagging

every time its master wants to engage in a bit of moral support.]

*  Iraq Must Let UN Arms Inspectors Return - France

*  Charming Saddam [Ian Black of The Guardian points out that sanctions

'have killed hundreds of thousands, impoverished a generation and

bolstered a brutal regime.' His solution? 'Europe should certainly be

trying much harder to persuade Baghdad to permit the return of the

weapons inspectors and avert war.']

*  Foreign Minister Petersen opposed to war against Iraq [But still wants

'a broad and continual international pressure against the regime in

Baghdad' to oblige it to 'change its present course'. So that's all

right.]

*  Ukraine suspected of supplying arms to Iraq [This is actually the same

story as the next one'. The Ukrainian connection is a little tenuous. In

fact it could equally be headed 'Great Britain suspected of supplying

...' etc]

*  German Companies Violating U.N. Sanctions, Der Spiegel Reports

3. MIDDLE EAST/ARAB WORLD

*  Attack on Iraq means peace talks in Mideast [This interesting article

suggests that the US can't attack Iraq while there's a war going on in

Israel. Enter Crown Prince Abdullah. Alternately, it is only because of

their desire to go to war with Iraq that the US government have any

interest in putting pressure on Israel. So there's a 'window of

opportunity'. It is an interesting thought, marred by the last paragraph:

'The single loser would be Saddam Hussein.' Saddam Hussein and unknown

thousands of Iraqis blown to pieces by American weapons of mass

destruction. Oh, and the Palestinians, since the Americans will obviously

have no interest in supporting this unlikely peace plan once Saddam

Hussein is out of the way.]

*  Egyptian exports to Iraq

*  Leader lauds programs to keep memories of Iraqi-imposed war alive

[Lest we forget: "Iran's brave defense during the eight years of the

Iraqi-imposed war was in fact a defense against an enemy backed by both

the East and the West."]

*  'The Last Thing We Want Is a Confrontation' [Quite a good summary of

the reservations of Iraq's neighbours ‚ the people on whose behalf, so we

are told (or used to be told. That line doesn't seem to be used do much

these days) all this is being done. It includes this excellent sentence:

'In addition, U.S. concern about Iraq's pursuit of chemical, biological

and nuclear weapons is not shared in a region that is equally worried

about Israel's possession of the same sorts of devices and views Iraq as

a potential Arab deterrent.' Extracts.]

*  Afghan Warlord [Gulbuddin Hekmatyar )Possibly Left Iran for Iraq -

Paper

AND, IN NEWS, 23/2-2/3/02 (3)

LESSER BREEDS WITHOUT THE LAW contd

4. NATO

*  NATO chief has no knowledge of US plans to attack Iraq [But why would

the 'chief' of the major alliance of which the US is a part expect to be

kept informed of US plans for war? Its almost as if he doesn't know his

place in the world. Mr Robertson goes on to inform us that only countries

which possess large quantities of weapons of mass destruction deserve to

be taken seriously.]

5. THE UNITED NATIONS

*  Trade with Iraq under UN sanctions fraught with hurdles [ Others on

the list understand the complexities of the sanctions system much better

than me but as I understand it, the so called 'fast track' procedure is

being sabotaged by the UNSC Approval Committee (ie by the Americans and ‚

a long way behind them ‚ the British, since we know that they are the

only members who ever raise any objections). The relevant paras of this

informative article are as follows: 'In the report of the Secretary

General dated November 19, 2001, 185 applications were found to contain

items acceptable on the review list, these applications were sent to the

approval committee. Only 50 of these applications were approved and the

reason to withhold the remaining applications was changed. This in effect

contradicts the approved reviewed items and wastes exporters' efforts,

discouraging them from trade with Iraq, traders said. Most importantly,

it is destroying the Iraqi people's opportunity to reclaim their health

and future.' Perhaps this was exceptional since it refers to the period

when the US were trying to pressure Russia into accepting 'smart

sanctions'. Note also the phrase 'Oil is Iraq's chief export'. I was

under the impression oil is Iraq's only legal export. Leaving oil aside,

Iraq is only allowed to buy (on a very large scale), not to sell, a

principle that is clearly harmful to individuals who might set up a

little business, but not to the government, who control the oil.]

*  Annan and Iraq set date for talks

*  UN Chief: The US will not act wisely if it attacks Iraq

*  More items included in Iraqi import list [A bonanza for businessmen.

But see also 'Trade with Iraq under UN sanctions fraught with hurdles'.]

*  U.N. humanitarian program for Iraq facing financial crisis [This story

suggests interestingly that if the holds were lifted, Iraq wouldn't have

the means to pay for them. Sevan appears to have been very categorical in

blaming the retrospective pricing system imposed by the US and Britain,

which has resulted in a large drop in oil sales. Though one imagines the

Iraqi response to this and to 'smart sanctions' - stopping selling oil -

would also have had something to do with it.]

*  UN official reports positive impact of oil-for-food program [The

half-a-cup full version of the preceding article]

*  Iraq Dampens Expectations for March 7 U.N. Talks [Iraqi willingness to

talk has been attributed to jitters over the possibility of imminent

attack, but their position hasn't changed. They will only let the

inspectors in if they can be persuaded that this will lead to the lifting

of sanctions. They've been burned once on this question and there's no

reason why they should allow themselves to be burned a second time.]

URL ONLY

http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/

*  BUSH MAY EASE SANCTIONS

by Betsy Pisik

The Washington Times, 1st March

[This of course is about 'smart sanctions' dressed up to soothe those who

have some marginal anxieties about the sufferings of the civilian

population. In the article, one 'Kenneth Allard, an Iraq scholar at the

Center for Strategic and International Studies' makes the following

scholarly comment: "The Iraqis have to put up or shut up" (Mr Allard is

probably an 'Iraq scholar' in the same way Adolf Eichmann was a

specialist in Jewish affairs.)]

OTHER LESSER BREEDS (Russia, Canada, Australia)

*  Primakov warns against attacking Iraq

*  Clark: PM soft on Iraq [Canadian Foreign Affairs minister, Bill Graham

has a philosophical turn of mind, and informs us that against Iraq: '"a

new doctrine of preventative defence" could be considered'. But this is

hardly very new. Hitler used it (with considerably more justification)

when he invaded Norway (forestalling a planned British invasion of

Norway); Stalin used it when he took Finland and then Eastern Poland; the

Japanese used it when they attacked Pearl Harbour; Saddam Hussein used it

when he invaded Iran; Israel used it in the Never on Saturdays war. It

has another name. Its called aggression.]

*  'Axis' harbours nuclear plan: CSIS [A Canadian Intelligence report.

Its evidence for saying Iraq is determined to acquire a nuclear weapons

capability appears to be that both the IAEA and the CIA think its likely

(both are on record as saying they have no evidence ...). Also there are

other 'US military and intelligence sources' (Richard Butler? Charles

Duelfer? The only one named is Khidr Hamza.) It would be nice to think

Iraq actually had a nuclear defence capacity. Then the US would think

twice about going to war. The fact that the US doesn't appear to be

thinking twice suggests that they haven't.]

*  Australian blockade working [Australia boasts of its success in

enforcing a policy whose 'effects are devastating on the civilian

population who suffer fatal food and medical shortages.' There is also a

reference to 'the SAS patrol involved in the fatal wounding of Sergeant

Drew Russell '(he was killed by a landmine in Afghanistan)]

*  Iraq and the UN Security Council [A twisted process of reasoning from

a former foreign minister of Australia. Essentially he argues that the US

has a legal right, in self defence, to attack nations which haven't

threatened it; but it should do so through the UN Security Council. This

will put the other members of the UN Security Council under a moral

obligation to support the US which will then be perfectly within its

rights to go it alone if they fail to do so. The article is couched in

general terms as befits an article about principles of law, which

suggests that all nations enjoy similar dangerous rights. There are some

passages that indicate that the author knows full well he is talking

twaddle.]

TERRORIST ATTACKS

*  Iraq intercepts American, British planes

*  Iraq Says Three Wounded in No-Fly Zone Air Strike

*  U.S. Military Confirms Bombing of Iraqi Targets

EFFECTS ON THE MARKET

*  Pentagon Denies Iraq Rumor, Calming Markets

*  The costs of tangling with Iraq [Marvin Zonis of Marvin Zonis

Associates Inc., a political risk consultancy says the prospect of war

may have a devastating effect on the price of oil.]

URL ONLY:

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020226/n26198619_2.html

*  U.S. ATTACK ON IRAQ WOULD SLAM STOCKS IN SHORT TERM

by Chelsea Emery

Yahoo, 27th February

'The Philadelphia Stock Exchange oil service index surged 3.9 on Feb. 21

after the U.S. Defense Department's fuel buying wing said it was seeking

to buy an additional 1.5 million barrels of A-1 jet fuel for U.S. bases

in the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Oil prices rose on

speculation U.S. troops were in Iraq.' Oh well. Its an ill wind ...

IRAQIS OUTSIDE IRAQ

*  Saddam aide gets migration blessing

NEW WORLD ORDER

*  Afghan interim leader praises Iran [Not immediately relevant to Iraq,

but not without interest to see the US protege establishing good

relations with one of the points on the axis of evil.]

*  Disorganized at Defense [Last week there was a crop of articles about

the US Defense department's 'Office of Strategic Influence' whose job, it

was said, was to spread disinformation. Now it seems that the OSI has

been closed down by the Pentagon. The Washington Times (is it still owned

by the Rev. Moon?) has, however, rushed to the rescue, pointing out 'that

there were no plans to put out false stories, emphasizing that OSI's

draft charter made no mention of such a scheme' and other such relevant

information.]

*  Proud wife turns 'axis of evil' speech into a resignation letter [I

had thought of keeping this for the 'level of idiocy in a category of its

own' slot until the last paragraph reminded me that it is probably a

smart career move, with the wife self sacrificingly playing the role of a

complete air head for the sake of letting it be known who had coined the

famous phrase, well co-ordinated with the husband's resignation and

consequent availability for offers. Note the telling phrase: 'You're

playing with history ...' (not to mention thousands of peoples lives)]

*  Congress Questions Future of War Against Terror [Extracts. Included

just for the sake of noting US infiltration into Georgia.]

*  The power of lies [This doesn't have much to do with Iraq, but Pepe

Escobar is the best writer on international affairs at the current time

and I'm happy to post anything he writes. Here he tells us that 'the

Taliban and al-Qaeda structures are practically intact inside Pakistan'

and that the 'Iranian' arms shipment to Palestine was almost certainly an

Israeli put-up job. He regards Karzai's position as pretty hopeless but

draws attention to his speech in Tehran as a sign that, axis of evil or

no axis of evil, Iran and Afghanistan are inseparable.]

News, 2-9/3/02

Negotiations begin over the return of the weapons inspectors. US goes

along with it to fill in the time while they reorientate and reassemble

their war machine. Quite a lot of timid dissent appearing in the UK

press. Some even more timid cheeps in the US press. Hints of independent

thought in the British cabinet (seems improbable). Best article of the

week: The coming war on Iraq: Protest, don't grovel by Praful Bidwai.

Best argument for massacre and terrorism: Europe must get serious on

Iraq, by Christoph Bertram. Both in the World Opinion section.

US OPINION

*  U.S. senator says Iraq action might start secretly [But this won't

stop Senator Liebermann from continuing the age old US whining about the

Japanese 'sneak' attack on Pearl Harbour.]

*  'Bombing Saddam is ignorance' [Review of See No Evil, by ex CIA man,

Robert Baer]

*  Iraq attack 'will end in chaos' [Further thoughts of Robert Baer]

*  Whack Iraq? Striking Hussein is ill-conceived [Some good points here,

e.g. 'the only nation interested in attacking Hussein--us--is the one

farthest from him. Why, asked one Chicagoan, should the United States

worry about him when those closest to his threat, especially the other

Arabs, don't?' and the article stresses that there isn't the slightest

reason to assume that SH is a threat to the US or even to his neighbours

(though it doesn't consider the Kurds). Unless, of course, someone

attacks him.]

*  The objective is clear-topple Saddam. But how? [This article by

Seymour Hersch in the New Yorker leaves us with the agreeable impression

that the US administration and its planning for war on Iraq are in a

total mess. And what is the role of the Rendon Group, a PR consultancy

paid nearly $100 million dollars between 1991 to 1995 to handle Iraqi

matters. Does it cost that much to make out a case against Saddam

Hussein? Or, as seems to be implied here, against the INC?  Extracts.]

*  As Europe fades away, USA will have to go it alone [Pat Buchanan, who

responded very well to September 11th, (article in Pravda on 17th

October, News, 14-20/10/01) and I thought was on record as opposing a war

on Iraq, now seems to want the US to act as world policeman on its own.

Whatever happened to the noble tradition ‚ the hope of the world ‚ of US

isolationism? Here he argues that Europe is washed out because it is

swamped by Muslim immigrants. But the US, he says, is thriving because of

the high birth rate of 'legal and illegal immigrants.' Most of them,

though he doesn't say it, come from South America. They may meet with his

approval because they are supposed to be Roman Catholics, though they're

just as likely nowadays to be Pentecostalists. But South America is

where, after Sept 11, there was dancing on the streets.]

*  Saddam is the next US target [Interesting article in which Christopher

Hitchens ‚ one of the few ‚ thinks out the implications of the contempt

with which Ahmed Chalabi is being treated by the US political

establishment.]

*  U.S. believes Russia is shifting on Iraq [An anonymous 'American

official' has a chat with a journalist.]

*  Don't let Baghdad's game drag on [by William Safire. 'nuff said.]

AND, IN NEWS, 2-9/3/02 (2)

US OPINION contd

*  A Kristol-clear perspective [Jerusalem Post account of William

Kristol, one of the leading US advocates of war against Iraq. Extracts.]

*  Powell Says Bush Has Seen No Plans to Attack Iraq [Powell trashing the

newspaper reports that suggested that Mr Blair was going to the US to

discuss such plans with Mr Bush.]

*  Thoughts about America [Interesting article by Edward Said, torn

between affection and despair over America. Pity if it only appeared in

the Arab world. Extracts.]

URLs ONLY:

http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/03/03/wirq03.xml&s

heet=/news/2002/03/03/ixworld.html

*  US PUTS THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO SADDAM WAR PLAN

by Sean Rayment and David Wastell in Washington

Sunday Telegraph, 3rd March

'Charles Heyman, the editor of Jane's World Armies', an enthusiast for

this sort of thing, says: '"Once Saddam has gone and America has the

government in place to do its bidding, I believe it will need to keep at

least 100,000 troops in the country to provide security for the new

regime - and they could be in Iraq for years."'

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi

bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2002/03/07/DD130368.DTL

*  IDEA: LET'S NOT INVADE IRAQ RIGHT NOW

by Jon Carroll

San Francisco Chronicle, 7th March

[Spirited argument against the war written in the US equivalent of the

literary style of The Sun. Difficult to know what to make of a remark

such as this: 'Besides, the Iraqi people are really suffering already. We

can take solace in that.']

BRITISH OPINION

*  MPs 'will oppose' attack on Iraq [Radio 4 interview with Tam Dalyell]

*  War with Saddam is inevitable [This article manages to find a couple

of occasions in which Iraq engaged in 'terrorism' ^À one in 1978, the

other in 1982 ‚ but it goes on to say that: 'the real reason for seeking

Saddam's removal is his insistence on acquiring vast arsenals of

chemical, biological and nuclear weapons which cannot be justified purely

in terms of Iraq's own self-defence.' What, we wonder, does a country

threatened by attack from the US need for its own 'self defence',

according to the Telegraph (which, we may be sure, believes that Britain

'needs' a nuclear weapons capability as a 'deterrent'). Given the

effectiveness of the weapons inspectors in the early days when they

really were weapons inspectors, some sort of biological capacity is

surely the only option available to Iraq. As a deterrent. The US are sure

they have it because they think they'd be crazy not to have it.]

*  Blair to publish Iraq dossier [Though in our leak-prone culture it

seems strange we're not getting any leaks to suggest it contains anything

we haven't seen before.]

*  Hold fire on Iraq [Evening Standard editorial comment]

*  British MP Castigates Blair's 'Double Standards' on Iraq [Alice Mahon]

*  MP wants Iraq 'threat' published [Who's Jim Murphy? Obviously someone

deserving of front bench status.]

*  Mr Bush's 'first friend' should warn him against going to war with

Iraq [from The Independent]

*  Why is Blair banging the drum for an attack on Iraq? [Hugo Young

opposes the warmongering. But weakly. He takes Joschka Fischer as an

example of an admirable response. But we all know which way Joschka

Fischer will fall if finally he gets pushed. (NOTE, June 2003. In the

event of course Joschka Fischer gave us all a pleasant surprise - PB]]

* Saddam must allow weapons inspectors into Iraq or suffer the

consequences [by Jack Straw]

*  Blair would follow Bush to Baghdad, but then what? [Slightly

dissenting voice in The Times. But she still wants the weapons inspectors

in.]

*  If it's war on Saddam, can Blair sell it to his party? [Summary of

present state of opinion. Where there is an opinion, ie not in the

Conservative Party. mentions Scott Ritter's views on whether or not Iraq

has a significant chemical or biological capacity.]

AND, IN NEWS, 2-9/3/02 (3)

BRITISH OPINION contd

*  Blair faces threat of resignations over Iraq

*  Ministers step back from new war on Iraq

*  Galloway apologises for calling minister a liar

*  Time up for Iraq [Times editorial]

*  Kennedy tells his members they have to 'grow up' to take on Tories

[Some quite sensible comments from Charles Kennedy, who, before going to

war with Iraq, requires not just proof that Iraq should possess WMDs but

also evidence that 'there is a willingness to use them'.]

URLs ONLY:

http://observer.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,661037,00.html

*  LET GO OF DUBYA'S COAT-TAILS

by Mary Riddell

The Observer, 3rd March

[A wandering article which eventually winds up with this conclusion:

'Should an elusive salvation still exist for Iraq, it lies in targeted

sanctions, more food aid, plus global co operation on weapons treaties

and regional action on oil smuggling. Mr Blair should press for those and

unhitch himself fast from the Bush game of swagger and double jeopardy.'

Incidentally, when Mary Riddell refers to 'Old Testament notions of good

and evil', she indicates that she isn't very well acquainted with that

most morally complex of sacred texts.]

http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/03/07/wirq07.xml&s

heet=/news/2002/03/07/ixnewstop.html

*  COUNTDOWN TO WAR ON SADDAM

by Toby Harnden and George Jones

Daily Telegraph, 7th March

[General roundup of developments which includes this rather touching

quote: 'A Bush administration source told The Telegraph that it had never

been doubted that Britain would join the Iraqi campaign. Acknowledging

opposition elsewhere in the world, he said: "When we say we might have to

go it alone, 'we' really means 'you and us'."']

WORLD OPINION (from India, Pepe Escobar, Australia, Germany, Georgia,

China)

*  The coming war on Iraq: Protest, don't grovel [A fine article with a

clear-eyed view of the major driving force of politics at the present

time ^À the US bid for world domination. A short but good account of the

'weapons inspections' in Iraq. One complaint. Richard Garfield's figure

of 350,000 children under 5 dying since 1990 is quoted (as a conservative

estimate) but it isn't stated that this is twice the 1980s figure ‚ so

the excess figure is in fact 175,000.]

*  Bush vs Saddam: The empire strikes back [My admiration for Pepe

Escobar fades a little after this fairly routine account of the

difficulties facing the US over Iraq. Though it starts well ‚

highlighting the central dilemma: how do you affect 'regime change' in

Iraq without handing it over to its Shia majority, which is unacceptable

to Saudi Arabia?]

*  The lone ranger [Interesting to see anxiety about US imperialism

coming from Australia of all places. And quoting Michael Ignatieff of all

people. And even George ('Lord') Robertson! Though there's still a bit of

an atmosphere of 'We'd like to kick some ass, too. Please.' about it.]

*  Europe must get serious on Iraq [German commentator says what the US

wants to hear. Surprise, surprise. He presents his argument as a defence

of the authority of the United Nations. These people need to be told that

the authority of the United Nations is only worth preserving if it really

is the united nations. Alas, the greatest enemy of the united nations is

the US and after it the UN Security Council with its five permanent veto

wielding powers. Also, when you've systematically and deliberately

murdered hundreds of thousand of people over a period of ten years in

'peacetime', you cease to have any moral authority whatsoever.]

*  Georgia Won't Allow Its Airfields to Be Used for Attack on Iraq

*  China Hopes to See Positive Result from UN-Iraq Dialogue

URL ONLY:

http://atimes.com/front/DC08Aa02.html

*  ASIA: LOW-HANGING FRUIT IN THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

by Scott B MacDonald

Asia Times, 7th March

[I haven't included this for reasons of space but its an interestingly

blatant statement from a private consultancy firm of the US intention to

establish full hegemony over Asia. This is presented as an exciting

opportunity for the Asians.]

IRAQI/UN RELATIONS

*  UN Arms Expert No 'Cosmetic' Inspections in Iraq

*  Meeting Scheduled on Iraqi Sanctions [Some elements not in the

previous article]

*   If mission is timetabled inspectors could return to Iraq: Paper [The

Iraqi position on inspectors hasn't changed. Nor could it, given the

obvious truth of the following two assertions from Babil: '"One of the

main reasons for our opposition to the return of inspectors is because

the Americans want them to remain indefinitely, which means continuing

the unfair embargo,"" and '"The US administration is determined to attack

us whether we authorise the return of inspectors or not,"'.

*  'So Far So Good' Annan Says of Iraqi Talks

*  Iraq is converting donated aid trucks into rocket launchers, claim US

chiefs [Note that the purpose of this is to justify blocking Iraq from

having access to trucks. But, given the nature of the weaponry that is

being assembled against Iraq, is there no-one out there prepared to hold

this sort of thing up to the contempt and derision it deserves?]

*  U.S. backs new round of Iraq-U.N. talks [Some interesting items here.

Russia wants a mechanism for the lifting of sanctions; Blix assures the

Iraqis that UNMOVIC is different from UNSCOM (thus confirming that there

was something wrong with UNSCOM).]

AND, IN NEWS, 2-9/3/02 (4)

IRAQI/MIDDLE EAST-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Iraq demands action from Arab summit

*  Turkish Delegation in Iraq to Boost Trade Ties

*  US likely to press Egypt over Iraq action [Apparently Egypt is, rather

conveniently, once again in economic difficulties. All the 'help' they

received from the US since the war on Iraq doesn't seem to have helped

very much.]

*  Iran takes part in Iraq's Int'l Electrical Industries Exhibition

*  Baghdad wants Turkey to act openly in relations with Iraq

*  UAE urges clear Arab stand on threats against Iraq

*  Saddam blasts Arab peace plans for ME

*  Mideast Escalation Puts the Squeeze on Sharon [Desire for war on Iraq

leads to pressure for peace in Israel/Palestine. But as pointed out last

week (Attack on Iraq means peace talks in Mideast), all that is really

wanted is a ceasefire that will conveniently coincide with the Iraqi

campaign. Then when that's finished, Sharon can be let off the leash

again ...]

*  Iraq, Pakistan denied entry to warlord [Gulbuddin Hekmatyar]

OIL

*  Politics undermining Iraq oil industry: Report [from MEES]

*  Bula cancels Iraqi consultancy contract

*  Attack on Iraq to bring gas-pump gloom [Brief account of oil

geopolitics, including this: 'The Central Asian bases are explained as

necessary as the US plans for an extended global war on terrorism. But

Baker (George Baker, oil analyst) says they can also be explained in the

context of oil - and the potential for disruption in the Gulf

oil-producing region if the US attacks Iraq. "Why are we building bases

in the Caspian? Because we're trying to protect the stability of Caspian

oil production," he says. "And why are we doing that? We need to have

that oil production in place if we're going to risk losing Saddam

Hussein's oil."' Which implies some rather long term planning.]

IRAQI OPPOSITION

*  Iraqi opposition to Saddam [More experts telling us what we already

know. Extracts on likely US support for the Iraqi army and for General

Naguib Salihi, who, we are told 'is the least tainted by association with

the Iraqi regime' though he only left the upper echelons of the Iraqi

army in 1995 and must therefore have been involved in most of the crimes

imputed to SH. And does Fiona Symon realise, we wonder, how profoundly

shocking her first sentence is?]

URL ONLY:

http://www.ctnow.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc

will0304.artmar04.story?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Doped

*  How Brittle Is Hussein's Regime?

Hartford Courant, 4th March

[Interview with Ahmed Chalabi. Nothing new, except perhaps, the 'Samson

option.' SH sends a bomb with VX poison gas which kills 100,000 Israelis.

Problem is it would also kill thousands of Palestinians so it seems

unlikely. The article gives the impression Chalabi is making it up as he

goes along.]

INSIDE IRAQ

*  Renowned Iraq Poet Killed

*  We will fight to the finish: Tariq Aziz [One of the very rare

occasions in which any Iraqi leader is allowed to express himself at

length. Needless to say its in a French newspaper.]

*  Iraqi Kurdish Leader Against US Intervention in Iraq

*  American talks with Kurdish sides to topple Saddam

* Explosions at broadcasting center near Baghdad [Since it appears that

the INC have claimed responsibility for this act of terrorism we expect

the immediate arrest of all their leading representatives and the

freezing of their assets.]

ENFORCING THE EMBARGO

*  Trial for a Swiss company over selling pipes to Iraq

*  Warship returning home after Iraq mission ["Our successes in the Gulf

are testament to the professionalism, enthusiasm and tremendous team

spirit of my ship's company. I expect them to receive a terrific welcome

home from their friends and family - they certainly deserve nothing

less." For having boarded 10 ships in two years and having stolen £4

million worth

of Iraqi oil.]

*  Iran Protests U.S. Interception of Tanker

REMNANTS OF DECENCY

*  Merchants hope to help hungry by selling dates from Iraq [in Canada]

*  Protesters fear war against Iraq [Protest in London, 1st March]

*  German peace movement to demonstrate against US attack in Iraq

IRAQIS OUTSIDE IRAQ

*  Iraqi refugees strike back at Australia [Story of refugees accused of

threatening to drown their babies]

News, 9-16/3/02 (index)

[Some mildly interesting articles this week: 'Sitting on the Sidelines

Isn't Good Enough' (under Idiotic Paranoia); 'Dubious Iraqi Link' (under

Doubts and Queries); ' Iraqi oppositionist ponders possibility of

toppling Saddam' and 'Sourchi: US Military Action Won't Benefit Kurds'

(under Iraqi Opposition). Otherwise, there's the encouraging refusal of

Saddam's neighbours to join in the paranoia about the threat he's

supposed to pose to them; and the opposition to war in the British House

of Commons which seems to indicate the existence of some twitchings of a

moral and intellectual life within the Labour Party. Shame however that

it has to be ‚ and I recognise that realistically it does have to be ‚

tied in with suport for the non-existent 'International Coalition against

Terror' and return of 'weapons inspectors' to Iraq. The lenghty article

which appeared in Friday's Guardian is being sent as a separate

supplement at the end of News, 9-16/3/02 (5).]

News, 9-16/3/02 (1)

IDIOTIC PARANOIA DELIBERATELY WORKED UP IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY MASS MURDER

FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A WORLD DOMINATION WHICH WILL LAST A

THOUSAND YEARS (which is the only sense I can make of the phrase 'the end

of history'.)

*  UK, US to link Iraq with al-Qaeda [Iraq is said to have helped some of

them to escape. This line doesn't seem to have been followed up so far.]

*  Old opponent makes about-face: states case for invading Iraq [In an

item under 'Doubts and queries' Kenneth Pollack seemed to be hesitant

about war on Iraq but here he's all for it. Because otherwise SH might

get nuclear weapons.]

*  Get ready for a nasty war in Iraq [Daniel Byman 'directs research in

the Center for Middle East Public Policy at the Rand Corporation.' Here

is an example of his scholarly acumen: Perhaps uniquely in military

history, America cares more about the suffering of the enemy regime's

people than does the regime itself.' He concludes that Washington 'must

prepare militarily for fighting in cities and for taking out colocated

targets' (hospitals, schools etc, where there are  - or perhaps where

there might be, you never know ‚ military installations.)]

*  Sitting on the Sidelines Isn't Good Enough [Another contribution from

the Rand Corporation, this time a coherent 'philosophical' view of the

extension of US world domination ‚ treating the world as Europe was

treated after the Second World War, including a Marshall Plan. This could

be quite an inspiring vision (for someone other than myself) but it would

require the sort of moral courage the US simply doesn't possess. What he

calls, and condemns as, 'episodic engagement' is much more likely.]

*  War threat crisis talks on anthrax [Conference at a secret location in

London. Gosh, this is getting exciting!]

*  Iraqi says gulf war U.S. pilot is alive [Case of Michael Speicher

again. There were a lot of articles on this. Could it really be presented

as a convincing casus belli?]

*  Only fools ignore Saddam [The Sun gives you the case for mass murder

in the form of a poem in free verse]

*  Russia, France offer gauge for Iraq policy [Here is quite an amusing

fantasy. Russia and France let the US off the hook by being tough on

Saddam, thereby provoking an internal Iraqi revolt, thereby proving that

diplomacy rather than war works and protecting their investments.]

*  Gazing into the nuclear night [The logic is impeccable. All advanced

industrial countries who manifest any signs of hostility to the US and

have any sort of capacity, however slight, of attacking it, must be

destroyed.]

*  Bush denounces Saddam

*  US hawks unleash public opinion war [Establishment of new body ‚ AVOT

(Americans for Victory over Terrorism) to track and expose unAmerican

activities especially on US campuses, following on the work of the

American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), founded by the wife of

Richard Cheney.]

URLs ONLY:

http://www.iht.com/articles/50820.html

*  ON LANGUAGE A PHRASE OF RESTRAINED APOLOGY

by William Safire

International Herald Tribune (from The New York Times), 11th March

[William Safire establishes his credentials as a bona fide intellectual

with a little encomium on the meaning of words. Without interest.]

http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/03/12/wirq12.xml&s

heet=/news/2002/03/12/ixnewstop.html

*  STOP SADDAM 'MARRIAGE OF TERROR'

by George Jones, Political Editor and Ben Fenton in Washington

Daily Telegraph, 12th March

[President Bush: 'Men with no respect for life must never be allowed to

control the ultimate instruments of death.' Indeed]

http://www.nydailynews.com/2002-03-13/News_and_Views/Beyond_the_City/a

144242.asp

*  THERE'S A REASON TO KEEP OUR NUKES UP

New York Daily News, 13th March

['Iraq is a rogue state. America is not. Twinning us with them ^À the

clear import of The (NY) Times editorial ^À is an incredibly flawed

application of the doctrine of moral equivalence. If Sept. 11 taught us

anything, it's that evil really does exist and that it must be defeated

before it strikes ^À not afterward. Waiting until Saddam can do to us ^À

or to Israel or others ^À what we can do to him now would abrogate

America's standing as a moral society.']

AND, IN NEWS, 9-16/3/02  (2)

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN THE HANDS OF A ROGUE STATE

*  U.S. Works Up Plan for Using Nuclear Arms Military

*  Bunker bomb will bust test ban [This article gives names of the

advocates of nuclear terrorism. They all seem to be called 'Stephen'.]

*  Itchy fingers on the trigger [More on the Stephens. One feels there is

a phenomenon here which can only be understood in psychological terms.

These people spend all their time working out the means of killing vast

numbers of people. It is their job and it is on their mind all the time.

The spectre haunts them to the point of paranoia. Eventually they

convince themselves that its all about to happen and this causes them to

precipitate the very catastrophe they fear. Bear in mind that this is a

generation whose brains have been softened by Arnold Schwarzenegger

films, and films such as Independence Day. Culture counts for a lot as

Marx didn't say often enough.]

BRITISH OPINION

*  British Cool on Using UK Troops in Iraq - Poll

*  Bush wants 25,000 UK Iraq force

*  The case against Iraq [Mr Neil doesn't think that the British people

have any business discussing the possibility of war on Iraq until the US

have made up their minds on the matter. He gives a highly tendentious

account of the old Muhammad Atta/al-Ani story. He says Atta travelled

half way round the world to meet al-Ani. This is not at all known. What

is known is that Atta spent one evening in Czechoslovakia. He came from

neighbouring Germany. No-one knows what he did or who he met. It is

thought that someone who looked like Atta met al-Ani on another occasion

when, it is known, Atta was in the US; so, if it was him, but it might

not have been, he would have had to travel half way round the world.

There is no evidence of Atta's coming to Prague at that time. Neil even

drags out the fumbling story of the Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman who

'knew' that they had met and what they discussed (bombing Radio Free

Europe), a story he later retracted. The Czech President, a rather more

substantial figure, said he was only 70% certain that any meeting took

place (see, e.g. 'New Clue Fails to Explain Iraq Role in Sept. 11 Attack,

NY Times, 16/12/01. See also 'Dubious Iraqi Link' in Doubts and Queries

below ). Neil reaches a paroxysm of absurdity when he tells us that that

the evidence for Iraq's possession of WMDs is so overwhelming it has even

managed to convince so hardened a sceptic as ... Jack Straw! Finally,

having delivered himself of this half-baked concoction of ancient

rumours, he calls for a 'more grown-up, informed discussion than we have

had so far.'  Axis of evil ... used chemical weapons against his own

people ... You know. That sort of thing.]

*  Blair's just a Bush baby [On the naivety of the British

establishment's notion that they are a moderating influence on the US

regime.]

*  Britain Wants to Make Cyprus Forward Operating Base Against Iraq

[Article from Greek Cypriot worried about the likely effect on the

tourist industry. It seems they lost a lot through the Gulf War, though

doubtless the UN Compensation Committee proved very understanding. But

perhaps they're right to be worried, since what sort of compensation, we

wonder, will be paid if Saddam is removed and an American proxy installed

in his place?]

*  UK minister argues against attack on Iraq [Clare Short. Which is fine

and courageous but CS et al must summon up the courage to say, or at

least think, that WMDs are considerably less dangerous in the hands of SH

than they are in the hands of GB (or of a TB following in GB's

footsteps.)]

*  Straw outlines Iraq's 'severe threat' [Straw's evidence, followed by

voices of caution, right and left, in the Commons, followed by an idiotic

intervention from Ann Clwyd who says indicting Saddam would be better

than bombing Iraq: as if there is any point in having an indictment if he

can't be brought before a court and how can he be brought before a court

without bombing Iraq? Oh, I know. We could freeze his assets.]

*  Tough talk on Iraq [Guardian editorial opposing war, though more as a

matter of convenience than of moral principle.]

*  If Saddam would fall, Bush should push him [Disappointing to see Simon

Jenkins joining in the paranoia. It is also very odd. He blandly informs

us that 'sanctions' (that is to say, US and UK policy] have killed tens

of thousands of Iraqis for no good reason; then he presents Saddam

Hussein as if he is in some way more dangerous and villainous that Messrs

Bush and Blair. Perhaps it is because he hasn't understood (because

no-one has taken the trouble to explain it to him) that there were

REASONS for the evil things Saddam Hussein has done. They may have been

evil, but unlike the evil things done by the Bushes, the Clintons and the

Blairs, they weren't gratuitous evil.]

*  Terror of Saddam's hidden arsenal [Extract giving what appears to be

concrete in the article, from the Daily Telegraph. But surely the

government can come up with something better than this. Good title,

though.]

*  100 MPs back protest over strikes on Iraq [It is a matter of deep

shame to the Conservative Party that there are no 'Tory' signatures. Has

all independent thought stopped in that little world? The article goes on

to smear tactics against G. Galloway. Which is a good sign that he is no

longer seen as just a harmless eccentric.]

URL ONLY:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,3925229%255E401,00.ht

l

*  Brits deny plan to storm Iraq

Herald Sun (Australia), 11th March

[Worth mentioning the following: 'Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said

junior foreign minister Ben Bradshaw had met Iraqi opposition leaders in

London last week. Another meeting was planned for next week, a

spokeswoman said, but insisted there was "nothing significant" in the

talks, which were held periodically.' In a later article ('US pursues

ex-generals to topple Iraq leader ') we learn that the last time a

British government minister met a member of the Iraqi opposition was two

years ago. See also 'Iraqis search for a successor to Saddam' under the

Iraqi Opposition.]

AND, IN NEWS, 9-16/3/02 (3)

EUROPE

*  Belgium calls on EU to send mission to Iraq

*  German FM unaware over US plans for post-Saddam summit [See 'Iraqis

search for a successor to Saddam' under Iraqi Opposition. Someone had the

bright idea that if the conference was held in Bonn it would look like

the conference to choose a government for Afghanistan. They neglected to

inform the German government.]

*  Germany Says Would Need UN Mandate for Iraq Action [Though since

Germany was behind the rogue attack on Serbia ‚ launched without a UN

mandate ‚ this is a matter of choice, not of respect for the law.]

URL ONLY:

http://www.reuters.co.uk/news_article.jhtml?type=worldnews&StoryID=689953

*  Europeans starting to change tune on Iraq

by Paul Taylor and Yves Clarisse

Reuters, 12th March

[A chorus of anonymous 'diplomats' mouthing what President Bush wants to

hear.]

IRAQI/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

*  Iraqi Baath Party Criticizes U.S. Campaign Against Iraq [Account of a

delegation to Indonesia.]   

*  New Zealand Unlikely to Join Any Action Against Iraq

*  Vietnam VP leaves for tour of Iraq, India [Let's hope she's able to

pass on a few tips ...]

*  Russia rethinks its support for Iraq [This is just speculation but

given the nature of V.Putin and the fact that he has now secured the

support of the 'International Coalition against Terror' aka the US for

his war against the Chechens, it is credible.]

*  Russia denies it might accept anti-Iraq strikes

IRAQI/MIDDLE EAST-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Some 3000 Iranian refugees to return home shortly: UNHCR [Iranian

refugees in Iraq. Difficult to understand this unless they are supporters

of the more secular Iranian tendencies.]

*  Jordan warns of catastrophe if US attacks Iraq

*  Jordan: tap line reopening reviewed by Saudi team [We are often told

that Jordan has been 'sympathetic' to Iraq because it is dependent on

Iraqi oil, which Iraq supplies free (which is really a very remarkable

arrangement that doesn't get enough attention, but it probably explains

why Jordan has still managed to retain some shreds of sovereignty despite

the malice of the US, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait at the end of the Gulf

Massacre). This article reminds us that prior to the Massacre, they got

their oil from Saudi Arabia as well as from Iraq, and had to pay for

both. The Saudis turned the tap off and forced Jordan into Iraq's embrace

because of Jordan's attempts to find a peaceful solution in the midst of

the 1990/91 atmosphere of hysteria, which is now developing again.]

*  Cheney finds skepticism toward U.S. Iraq strategy on first Mideast

stop

*  Syrian President Meets Senior Iraqi Officials

*  Egypt says Iraq may OK weapons inspectors

*  Iraqi Delegation to Visit Lebanon

*  Saudis to take hard line with Cheney against war on Iraq

*  Turkey Says Iraq No Threat, Should Not Be Attacked

URL ONLY

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,664468,00.html

*  Envoy's role linked to Arab backing on Iraq

by Julian Borger

The Guardian, 9th March

[The title has what there is in the story that is interesting, but the

people making the link ‚ between Zinni's visit and the campaign against

Iraq ‚ seem pretty uninteresting. Which isn't to say they're wrong, just

that your guess is as good as theirs.]

IRAQI/UN RELATIONS

*  Iraq wants equal treatment in U.N. talks [ie Iraq makes the obvious

point that if its possession of trucks that could be converted into

rocket launchers is a problem, the sanctions that have killed hundreds of

thousands of people is also a problem.]

*  Iraq: no weapons inspectors

*  U.N. approves in payments of $1.8 billion for Iraq invasion of Kuwait

DOUBTS AND QUERIES

*  Make war, not politics [Pepe Escobar continues to be disappointing on

the subject of Iraq. A fairly average account of the country's

tribulations picks up at the end with mention of the big profits there

are to be made, notably by Alliant Techsystems, Raytheon and L-3

Communications, out of the war on Iraq.]

*  An Iraqi Campaign Faces Many Hurdles [Mostly views of ex-CIA men

Kenneth Pollack and Whitley Bruner. Short extract giving reasons for

hesitation. Including the weather. Too hot in the Summer, too rainy in

November. Planning a war is almost as difficult as planning a holiday.]

*  Extending the war on terror: Prudent or paranoid? [Short extract from

Bangladeshi article, expressing splendid contempt for the US victory in

Afghanistan.]

*  It's Washington vs the united state of Iraq [Pepe Escobar again. Makes

interesting point - if true - that Iraq after the Baath coup of 1968 was

the first Middle East country to secure full competence in  operating an

independent oil industry. And the man responsible was one Saddam Hussein.

Which helps to explain why they don't like him.]

*  Dubious Iraqi Link [David Ignatius would probably prefer to find

himself in the Idiotic Paranoia section, but he seems to have an odd, and

wholly inappropriate, penchant for telling the truth ‚ and for treating

lesser peoples (Europeans, Arabs) with respect. So here he is blowing the

gaffe on the Czech connection. Or is he just trying to divert some of the

paranoia away to Iran? Extracts.]

*  The inevitable war [Pepe Escobar on the irrelevance of the new UNSC

resolution on a Palestinian state and the immorality of the proposed

action against Iraq.]

URL ONLY:

http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/mar/10/10032002pd.htm#A1

*  'AXIS OF EVIL': TIME FOR DIALOGUE, NOT WAR

by Azra Parveen

Bangladeshi Independent, 10th March

[General expression of anxiety over the US drive to world domination]

AND, IN NEWS, 9-16/3/02  (4)

IRAQI OPPOSITION

*  US pursues ex-generals to topple Iraq leader [Dispute between the

apparently virtually non-existent INC and a bunch of Saddam Hussein

lookalikes.]

*  Ex-General Works to Topple Saddam [Account of Nizar al-Khazraji who,

whether or not he was actually responsible for the use of chemical

weapons against Halabja, was clearly involved in the war against the

Kurds and is now tipped as Washington's man to replace Saddam.]

*  Can we trust Iraqi military to help oust Saddam? [Views of General

Najib al-Salhi, who argues that some spectacular US gesture, such as

blowing up statues of Saddam Hussein (have I got this right???) would be

enough to spark an army revolt.]

*  Iraqi Opposition Looks to General [General account of Iraqi opposition

groups which at least has the decency to mention ‚ in a 3 line paragraph

towards the end ‚ the Iraqi Communist Party.]

*  Saddam renews Kurdish threats [The editorial line can't make up its

mind whether to condemn Mr Hussein for - very cleverly concealed -

threats or hypocrisy in suggesting a reasonable solution to the problem.]

*  Kurdish group denies reported US military mission in northern Iraq

*  Iraqi oppositionist ponders possibility of toppling Saddam [Apparently

intelligent assessment by an Iraqi opposition leader ‚ but the piece

doesn't say who it is ‚ who advocates (if I've understood it right) a

quick strike to eliminate the central government then accepting whatever

results are thrown up by the ensuing civil war. Makes the interesting

observation that: 'Direct combat on the ground between American and Iraqi

troops will make the United States responsible for arranging the

situations and filling the vacuum, and that is something the Americans do

not want to do. Even in Afghanistan, they refused to join the

international forces. Had it not been for the British forces, there would

not have been a government in Kabul.']

*  Iraqis search for a successor to Saddam [This has more details about

the Ben Bradshaw meeting the opposition story. It is the more interesting

end of the Iraqi opposition ‚ the Kurdish parties, the SCIRI and the

Iraqi National Accord. It appears that there is now virtually no pretence

even that the INC represent the Kurds, leaving us wondering who they have

left. Note how the word 'tribe' is being heard more often these days (its

part of the discourse of the INA). But what does it mean, if a single

'tribe' can encompass Sunni, Shia and (most odd) Turkmen?]

*  Sourchi: US Military Action Won't Benefit Kurds [What appears to me a

brutally realistic, intelligent Kurdish assessment of the position of the

Kurds in Iraq.]

*  US has not sought Kurdish aid to topple Saddam

CULTURE

*  Marvellous artwork [In the Iraqi pavilion at Carpet Oasis. Its not

clear where Carpet Oasis is but it seems to be outside Iraq and they also

appear to be selling paintings. And ceramics. Is this legal? Shouldn't

someone be doing something about it? What is the Australian navy doing?

Why has HMS Kent been recalled?]

*  Tensions kept lid on Iraqi tomb's treasure [I have a certain

admiration for the Egyptian fundamentalists who opposed the practise of

opening up tombs and presenting the dead and their funerary arrangements

to be gaped at by the idle curious.]

*  Artists make best of it in oppressive Iraq [The last of a courageous

series of articles by Hadani Ditmars on life in Iraq, published in the

San Francisco Chronicle]

AND, IN NEWS, 9-16/3/02  (5)

IRAQIS OUTSIDE IRAQ

*  15 Iraqi refugees bury themselves [In Woomera, Australia]

*  Sharp Mideast lines are blurred in U.S. [In this case the Iraqis

outside Iraq are Jews who had to flee Iraq in 1948. There is a reference

‚ perfectly justified ‚ to the poor treatment of Palestinians in refugee

camps in Arab countries. But the article goes on to talk about camps in

the Gaza Strip. Which have been in Israeli hands since 1967.]

*  Iraqis in asylum limbo [Woomera again]

CATEGORY OF ITS OWN (1)

URL ONLY:

http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=politicsnews&StoryID=697135

*  Bush, Wrapped in Irish Green, Discusses Iraq

by Steve Holland

Reuters, 13th March

[Visit of Irish Prime minister, Bertie Ahern, on something called 'the

Irish Wednesday'. 'Bush, wearing a pale green tie, was handed the

traditional crystal bowl of shamrock by Ahern in a small ceremony in the

White House Roosevelt Room. Bush's wife, Laura, stood nearby wearing a

bright green dress. Bush pointed out that a dozen American presidents

were of Irish descent.' (He doubtless failed to point out that most of

them were descended from Ulster Protestants.)]

CATEGORY OF ITS OWN (2)

*  Some Oklahoma City Victims Sue Iraq [This one has simply left me

speechless.]

SUPPLEMENT

*  Iraq: the myth and the reality [Lengthy analysis in The Guardian. Sent

separately]

News, 16-23/3/02

Comment on the war on Iraq seems to go in waves. We've had the wave of

evidence for a link with al-Qaida; the wave of it doesn't matter whether

there's a link or not the fact that there might have been is quite

enough; the wave of who is to replace Saddam; and this week there seems

to be a timid wave of perhaps Saddam isn't so bad after all, with a hint

that perhaps Iran might be a more appropriate target. Otherwise there's

the news that Saddam Hussein is about to have a 65th birthday party which

will coincide with the Queen's jubilee and probably outdo it in

splendour. Most important piece below is probably the account of Khidr

Hamza in Should we go to war against Iraq? in Doubts and Queries. Most

entertaining article, also in Doubts and Queries, Invading Iraq sure

wasn't about oil.

News, 16-23/3/02  (1)

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

*  Saddam 'will flee when the war starts' [Views of General Najib

al-Salih]

*  Army fear over Blair war plans [Ends with what appears to be a most

feeble argument that Iraq has been doing some little bits and pieces to

prepare for its defence in the (unlikely?) case of war.]

*  Saddam Hussein: He wants war. And he thinks he's ready for it [Account

of SH's character and career. More credible than the account by General

Najib al-Salih ('Saddam will flee when the war starts'). It mentions that

SH executed 'a third of the leadership' when he became President, but the

reason wasn't because they objected to his becoming President. the reason

was that they wanted a union with Syria in keeping with the original

Ba'ath pan Arab policy. Saddam wanted an independent Iraq. And so did

everyone who wanted to keep the Arab world weak and divided, which is

presumably why this purge only became general knowledge in 1990 .]

*  CIA survey of Iraq airfields heralds attack

*  CIA won't rule out Iraq, Iran [The article is a roundup of Tenet's

views on different countries (Iran, China, North Korea). With regard to

Iraq, Tenet doesn't produce any evidence of any connection - not even the

Prague link, though has a connection ever been made between Mohammad Atta

and al-Qaida? ‚ but he does say, and I would agree, that the ideological

difference between Iraq and al-Qaida doesn't rule out all possibility of

collaboration between them.]

*  All aboard the battle wagon heading for Iraq [Gratifyingly hostile

account of article by ex Clinton-adviser-looking-for-a-job, Kenneth

M.Pollack in the US journal, Foreign Affairs.]

URL ONLY:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,668443,00.html

*  COUNTDOWN TO A DANGEROUS WAR GAME

by Ewen MacAskill, Richard Norton-Taylor and John Hooper in Berlin

The Guardian, 16th March

[Round-up of the week's military speculations. Note that one of the main

reasons for hesitating is that, if cornered, SH might unleash a cocktail

of chemical and biological weapons. Rather a strong argument for the

wisdom of maintaining a chemical and biological weapons capacity.]

IRAQI/MIDDLE EASTERN-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Algerian delegation arrives in Baghdad

*  Kuwaiti, Egyptian Detained by Iraq Troops

*  Iraq Sends Diplomat on North African Tour

*  Iraqi Envoy Arrives in UAE Hot on Cheney's Heels

*  Syrian: The Iraqi pipeline is just for a test, to be cancelled

[Includes the interesting statement from the Syrian oil minister that:

"the oil which reaches Syria during testing the line is used by our

refineries and we use it to increase some of our oil exports."]

*  Cheney Finds Chilly Response in the Gulf to Any Attack on Iraq

*  Iraq, Bahrain sign agreement

*  Arab states united in rejecting attack on Saddam [Robert Fisk]

*  Kuwait opposes strike against Iraq

*  Qaddafi - Aziz discuss Palestine, Iraq problems

*  Saddam's enemy says 'no' to US [Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, of

the SCIRI]

*  Don't cling to old Mideast order [Don't worry about what the locals

think. Thy don't know what's good for them.]

*  Iraq, Lebanon to Sign Free Trade Agreement Next Month [and Sudan signs

a free trade agreement straight away]

*  Kuwait slams Iraq for holding Kuwaiti as 'bargaining chip'

* All Arab States Against Military Strikes on Iraq: Lebanese President

*  Arab leaders concerned by Saddam Hussein: Cheney

URL ONLY:

http://atimes.com/front/DC20Aa03.html

*  THE MAN TO WATCH IN SAUDI ARABIA (PART 1)

by John Rossant

Asia Times, 19th March

[I can't in all conscience give this rather long piece but its an

intriguing account of the Saudi royal family arguing that 'the Red

Prince', Talal bin Abdulaziz, a former associate of Nasser, out of

politics for many years, may be about to make a comeback.]

AND IN NEWS, 16-23/3/02  (2)

SOUTHERN KURDISTAN/NORTHERN IRAQ

*  Iraqi Kurd leader tours region [One of several indications that

Talabani is softening up to supporting the 'war'. Note that when he says

'our brothers in Turkey', he doesn't seem to be referring to his brother

Kurds ...]

*  'US to oust Saddam before next Sept 11' [This is the first time I've

seen the rather obvious suggestion that the Americans will want a mighty

victory to celebrate next September 11 (doubtless with a suitable

'solemn' moment in the midst of the festivities). It comes from PUK

leader Jalal Talabani.]

*  Report ties Iraqi intelligence with al Qaeda [Both are supposed to be

running an Islamic fundamentalist group in the Kurdish autonomous zone.

Is this the same as the stories we had four months ago concerning a group

called Jund Al-Islam? They were at war with Talabani. Their stronghold

was Halabja (ring a bell?). And in two articles ‚ Iran Pressures Talabani

To Terms Of Agreement With Islamic Groups, Kurdistan Observer, 20th

October; and Nechirvan Barzani Gives Three Messages In Ankara, Kurdistan

Observer, 23rd October ^À it was indicated that despite Talabani's

assurances they were not connected with al Qaida or Saddam Hussein. And

see the next article.]

*  In Saddam's Shadow [This is an interview with the author of the

aforementioned 'blockbuster' (J.Woolsey) suggesting that SH and OBL had

jointly sponsored a Kurdish Islamic fundamentalist group (see 'Report

ties Iraqi intelligence with al Qaeda' above). Here the author admits he

knows very little about it.]

INSIDE IRAQ

*  Iraq Says It Finds Unexploded Bombs, Mines Left Over in Gulf War

*  Saddam executes six for 'subversion' - report

*  Saddam's 65th birthday party to last two weeks

*  Saddam 'pens two more novels'

*  Eliminate weapons of mass destruction: Saddam to US

BRITISH OPINION

*  Blunkett warns Blair of riots in Britain over Iraq

*  UK is Bush's Lewinsky - Galloway [G. Galloway, for whom I have a great

admiration, rather lets the side down with this one.]

*  How anti-Americanism betrays the left [A desperate attempt to find a

respectable left wing sounding argument to support the End of History.

Apparently its all an extension of the anti-fascist war. John Lloyd

forgets that the people who bore the brunt of the anti-fascist war

weren't just fighting against something. They were fighting for

something, namely Communism. Without that positive cause they probably

wouldn't have been able or willing to do it. He ends up advocating: 'a

distinct, if under-developed view. It is that the processes of

globalisation must be counterweighted with forms of global governance and

justice which can bring the modern fascists to some kind of account - as

Slobodan Milosevic, the former President of Yugoslavia, is presently

being held to account in the Hague.' We've been listening to this

underdeveloped view for the past ten years and it doesn't get any better

with repetition. Some of us realised at the time of the 'Gulf War' that

until the veto system on the UN Security system is put to an end,

'international law' cannot be anything other than an engine of US

military power.]

*  Short: Military action against Iraq is 'unwise' [though she is very

worried about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.]

*  Saddam must be ousted now, says Duncan Smith [Mr Duncan Smith is

worried that Europe will soon be in range of missiles from 'the Middle

East'. He doesn't seem to think 'the Middle East' should be worried that

it is in range of missiles from Europe.]

*  Voters oppose action against Iraq [Interesting to note that 'Tory'

voters are more hostile than 'Labour' voters.]

*  Does Blair know what he's getting into? [A superficial analysis by

Christopher Hitchens of the 'problem'. Accepts Khidr Hamza and the Prague

connection at face value and is indifferent to the slaughter of thousands

of people (civilians or not). But some little doubts appear. Points out

that a Saddam chemical attack on Israel would also kill a lot of

Palestinians but fails to conclude that that is a reason why he is very

unlikely to do it.]

*  Mr Blair must climb out of President Bush's pocket [Hugo Young. Mr

Blair should demand weapons inspections ...]

URL ONLY:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,668575,00.html

*  THE NEW EMPIRE LOYALISTS

by Tariq Ali

The Guardian, 16th March

[Interesting article on lefties turned apologists for the US drive to

world domination: 'What unites the new empire loyalists is an underlying

belief that, despite certain flaws, the military and economic power of

the US represents the only emancipatory project and, for that reason, has

to be supported against all those who challenge its power. A few prefer

Clinton-as-Caesar rather than Bush, but recognise this as a

self-indulgence. Deep down they know the empire stands above its

leaders.' Two examples of the phenomenon ‚ Christopher Hitchens and John

Lloyd ‚ turn up elsewhere in this selection.]

AND IN NEWS, 16-23/3/02  (3)

DOUBTS AND QUERIES

*  Iran should come before Iraq [An interesting piece that argues that SH

is really our friend and a bulwark against the real enemy which is

Islamic fundamentalism.]

 Should we go to war against Saddam [This is a very long article that

attempts to assess the evidence for Iraq's possession of WMDs ‚

defectors, satellite pictures which show that the Iraqi military

possesses trucks, and the implications of the UNSCOM Report of 1998. I

have cut the early pro-defector part because there's little in it that's

new. What is new (to me) and very important is a strong criticism of

Khidr Hamza by his 'former mentor', David Allbright. The article ends by

saying that 'US Special Forces are already operating in northern Iraq',

though this is constantly being denied by the Kurds.]

*  British troops for Iraq war denied training [Satisfying account of

British military incompetence ‚ thoroughly appropriate for a nation so

situated that it has no need to engage in military activity (why should

our needs be any different from those of Ireland?). Offers a spark of

hope that we might be saved in the end by Gordon Brown.]

*  If the Allies attack Iraq there will be a huge desire by terrorists to

punish them and a nuclear explosion in the U.S. might well come true

[Last week we had the Sun giving us the case for mass-murder in free

verse. This week the Mirror gives us the case against in free verse. By

Tariq Ali. Who does quite a good job.]

*  Invading Iraq sure wasn't about oil [This is quite a treat. The

'realpolitik' argument for tolerating, or even supporting, SH as a

bulwark against backwardness. Its so well argued that one wonders if

George Jonas doesn't secretly mean it. What Jonas may have missed,

however, is that the US wants more than just access to oil. It has an

imperialist mission to extend actual control, but without itself taking

direct administrative responsibility. So it wants a world of puppet

governments. So it definitely doesn't want the sort of strong and

independent Iraq that Jonas' realpolitik solution would produce. Jonas

implies that the US has altruistic motives, but he'd be hard pushed to

say what they were.]

*  There is no justification for waging war against Iraq [At last. An

intelligent assessment from a British Tory (and this fellow, being an

academic, might just be a real Tory. They're a rare breed.]

URL ONLY:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,669248,00.html

*  AN IRAQ WAR COULD FAN FLAMES OF RECESSION

by Larry Elliott

The Guardian, 18th March

[A rather long winded way of saying that war with Iraq might put up the

price of oil.]

IRAQIS OUTSIDE IRAQ

*  UN helps Iran plan for flood of refugees [Note again the generosity of

Iran with respect to receiving refugees. Contrast with Australia, one of

the countries engaged in the International Coalition to Drive People into

becoming Refugees. The article finishes by saying that the Shi'ite 'marsh

Arabs' were totally defeated in the early 1990s and their territory is

now deserted. So what good was/is the southern no-fly zone? And what word

is adequate to describe the journalists who continue to mouth the

platitude that it was set up to protect them?]

*  Italy Admits Shipload of Iraqi Kurds [Although these emigrants, who

appear to be from Iraqi controlled parts of Kurdistan, say they are

fleeing Saddam Hussein it should be remembered that, through the policy

of 'containment' we have delivered them up to SH bound hand and foot, not

to mention that they too are victims of sanctions.]

IRAQI/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

*  Iraq Minister Praises Russian Economic, Political Support

*  [[Igor] Yusufov [representing the Russian government] called Iraq

Russia's "top strategic partner in the region"]

*  The Iraq Quandary [A glimpse into the depths of abject humiliation to

which the once great Russian nation has been reduced ...]

*  Belarus president calls for lifting sanctions imposed on Iraq

*  Germany Expresses Reservations Over U.S. Military Strike Against Iraq

[But they go on to say they want the inspectors in and how can you get

the inspectors in without a credible threat of war? Or a clear route to

the end of sanctions. But the German 'Socialists' and 'Greens' haven't

the spunk to call for that.]

IRAQI/UN RELATIONS

*  Iraq weakens its resistance to UN arms inspections [Contains the

interesting suggestion that Iraq would happily accept inspectors from

Arab countries, and perhaps give them unlimited access. How could the

Brits argue against that? Arabs can't be trusted?]

*  UN to Examine US Actions Toward Iraq

*  US: UN Should Ignore Iraq Questions

*  UK and U.S. object to Iraq U.N. questions

URL ONLY:

http://unfoundation.org/unwire/current.asp#24812

*  CHEMICAL WEAPONS: U.S. CALLS FOR OPCW HEAD TO RESIGN; BRAZIL BALKS

UN Wire, 21st March

[This may be very significant but the article doesn't give a clear idea

of what it is about.]

HISTORY

*  From friend to foe [Chronology of Iraqi history from 1920.]

News, 23-30/3/2002

A rather truncated news produced under difficult circumstances for a week

which saw something of an unraveling in US Imperialist plans: friendship

and solidarity among the Arab nations, hostility within Europe and among

the population in Britain, inability to put forward a convincing case for

Iraqi involvement with al-Qaida or even possession of weapons of mass

destruction, apparent inability even to organise an Iraqi opposition

conference.

IRAQI/BRITISH-EUROPEAN RELATIONS

*  Prodi: Block US bombing [Sun's indignation against 'arrogant Prodi'

who not only wants to take our pound away, he also wants to take away our

long established right to go beat up the Arabs whenever we have a mind]

*  Cardinal urges caution over action against Iraq [Caution from Cardinal

Cormac Murphy O'Connor, 'head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and

Wales']

*  Thousands demonstrate against Iraq war [In London on Saturday 30th

March]

INSIDE IRAQ

*  Saddam parades families of exiled critics on TV

*  British bombs still killing Iraqi fish [Effects of DU on fish farms in

Iraq]

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 1: Baghdad glued to Beirut [First part of an

interesting series by Pepe Escobar in the Asia Times. To be continued

next week.]

NORTHERN IRAQ/SOUTHERN KURDISTAN

*  F-16s Bomb Turk Kurd Rebels in Iraq - Kurd Sources

*  Saddam and bin Laden help fanatics, say Kurds [More, but not much

more, on the Kurdish Islamist movement round Halabja. Current best bet

for establishing a link between S.Hussein and al- Qaida]

IRAQI/US RELATIONS

*  USA BLOCKING OVER 200 CONTRACTS TO SUPPLY MEDICAL AID TO IRAQ

[complaint from UN Secretariat]

*  Iraq Invites U.S. to Discuss Pilot [Michael Speicher]

*  Checks on the American eagle [general round up of recent failures of

US diplomacy from the Asia Times.]

*  War on Iraq based on shaky legal ground [Experts in international law

who still haven't got the point that the veto gives the US the right -

legally - to defy international law with impunity.]

IRAQI OPPOSITION

*  U.S. seeks $5 million for Iraqi opposition meeting

*  Europe snubs US request to host summit of Iraqi exiles

IRAQI/MIDDLE EAST-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Yemen urges Arab states to lift embargo on Iraq [Plucky little Yemen

is notionally now at the mercy of the US and yet it keeps popping up with

cheeky observations and ideas. Such as this. That the Arab/Muslim world

should simply and unilaterally start to disregard the embargo on Iraq.

That is indeed exactly what they should do.]

*  Iraq and Kuwait strike reconciliation deal [Let's hope this is the

most important news of the week.]

*  The text of the case between Iraq, Kuwait

*  Lebanese-Iraqi free trade deal on verge of signing

News, 30/3-6/4/02 (1)

Hi! Fellow windy wobblers (see 'Saddam land war is vital' below).

Producing this without the luxury of my own computer has been such a

nightmare that I've hardly any energy left for smart alecky comments.

Another week has gone by in which Ariel Sharon has been doing what it

might take to unite Arab opinion and, at least temporarily, give Iraq a

little breathing space, or 'wiggle room' to use the preferred terminology

of the New World Order. A lot of speculation as to whether there will be

an oil embargo and, if so, if it will have much effect. And a whole

series of entertaining Pepe Escobar articles on his visit to Iraq.

IRAQI/UN RELATIONS

*  US lifts block on Russian contracts with Iran [And no-one seems to

think that this blatant use of the holds on Iraqi trade for political

purposes is in any way scandalous or even worthy of comment].

*  U.N. releases $995 million for Iraqi invasion victims

OIL POLITICS

*  Saddam, Iran threaten to play 'oil card'

*  Iraq lobbies Arab world to cut oil exports to US

*  Interview with J.Taylor, Cato Institute, on threat of oil embargo [He

argues that it wouldn't really matter]

*  Pretoria, Iraq Oil Deal Shrouded in Controversy

*  Bush, Saddam and the shoot-out at the Opec corral

IRAQI/MIDDLE EAST-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Detained Kuwaiti Returns Home

*  Iraq scoring series of diplomatic coups

*  Iraq Raises Suicide Bomber Payments

*  Iraqi Vice President Leaves for Syria, Lebanon

*  US's Richard Murphy discuss issues in roundtable meeting [in Damascus]

AND, IN NEWS, 30/3-6/4/02 (2)

NORTHERN IRAQ/SOUTHERN KURDISTAN

*  Iraqi Kurdish leader evades assassins

*  Jude Wanniski's Genocide Denial ['Wherein the supply-side guru

disputes, against all evidence, Saddam's gassing of the Kurds.']

*  U.S. Envoy Visits Kurds in Iraq

*  Kurdish leader survives Saddam assassination bid

FINGER POINTING AT IRAQ

*  Defector: I Bought Iraq Nukes [Yes, indeed, another one pops up just

when he's needed.]

*  Gulf War POWs Accuse Iraq of Torture

INSIDE IRAQ

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 2: The vanishing middle class [Series by Pepe

Escobar]

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 3: Baghdad and Ramallah - the same struggle

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 4: Sorry, your credit is no good [Interview with

Iraqi minister of trade, Mohamed Mamdi Salim]

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 5: What is terrorism?

BRITISH/EUROPEAN OPINION

*  Teachers make a stand on Iraq sanctions

*  Short 'carpeted' over Iraq

*  Overthrow Saddam But don't Harm His People, Urge Protesters [Yasser

Alaskary advocating the rather difficult trick of toppling Saddam without

hurting anyone else].

*  'Saddam land war is vital' [In-depth analysis by SAS Major Peter

Ratcliffe, writing in The Sun]

News 6-12/4/02 (1)

OIL POLITICS

*  Iraq Announces Cut in Oil Exports

*  Saudi Arabia Moves to Calm Fears of Oil Shortage

*  Iraqi Cutoff, Venezuelan Labor Problems Send Oil Prices Surging

*  Russia Holds Oil Exports Steady

*  SA undecided on oil embargo

*  Lawmaker proposes banning all US imports of Iraqi oil

*  Iraq's oil cutoff will hurt poor nations first

*  Saddam oil threat justifies drilling in Alaska, says Bush

*  Jordan and the Iraqi oil

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 6: Oil and troubled waters [Pepe Escobar on the

atmosphere in the Shi'ite oil territory around Basra.]

*  Oil slumps as Chavez ousted [This very sad piece of news is so clearly

advantageous to the US that it is difficult to resist the assumption that

they are behind it. Strike by a privileged section of the workforce

followed by military takeover in Southern America. Sound familiar?]

*  Imvune boss was named in UN probe into Iraqi oil deals

*  Oil Companies Lose Faith in Iraq Contracts [It begins to dawn on the

Russian oil companies that the US will never lift the sanctions until a

situation occurs in which US companies can compete for Iraqi contracts,

and so the deals the Russians have made with Iraq are worthless. Unless

of course they summon up the courage to break the sanctions, as they

should have done a long time ago.]

AND IN NEWS, 6-12/4/02 (2)

FINGER POINTING AT IRAQ

*  U.S. delays briefing U.N. on Iraqi arms

*  Blair issues stern warning to Saddam [Account of Blair's speech in

Texas. Wholly inadequate, like all the other accounts I've seen. The full

text, posted on http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,1- 260742,00.html,

was sent to the list in the Voices mailing for 8th April. It is essential

reading as the statement of a militant and deeply felt ideology. Far from

acting as a moderating influence on Bush the whole thrust of the speech

is to push him, using the most appalling flattery, out of any last

remaining tatters of isolationism into the fullest possible 'engagement'.

Instead of seeing Blair as Bush's 'poodle', it might be more appropriate

to see Bush as Blair's rottweiler.

*  Is this man leading us to war with Iraq? [On Ahmad Chalabi. Includes

the extraordinary statement that Saddam 'is now immeasurably better armed

than he was in 1990' (see Pepe Escobar in the Inside Iraq section). Also

indicates what is clearly the thinking of the US State Dept that Saddam

has to be replaced by someone who resembles him. Takes the INC defectors

at their face value. Doesn't probe too deeply into the problems faced by

the INC in trying to find an alternative. Nor does it mention the

existence of the INA.]

*  The anthrax hunter [on Hans Blix. The article admits, in passing, that

Richard Butler's 'inspectors had passed on secrets to the US and Israel',

without pausing to consider how utterly damning the statement is.]

*  UK cites Iraq's support for MKO as proof of sponsoring terrorism

London, April 11, IRNA [An interesting detail, noticed naturally enough

by the Iranians, that the Foreign Office have branded the Mujaheedin

al-Khalq, the major Iranian opponents of one third of the 'axis of evil'

as terrorists. We wonder if, when Iran comes into the cross hairs, the

Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution will be branded as terrorist.]

*  Pentagon Responds to Iraqi Offer on US Pilot's Fate [Speicher affair.

The US want 'anyone, anytime, anywhere' access; the Iraqis want the press

and S.Ritter present as a guarantee of propriety.]

*  U.S. military fuels up Mideast bases

INSIDE IRAQ

*  Booming Baghdad in fear of US [Article suggesting that life in Baghdad

isn't so bad these days. Though it hasn't much to say about life in Iraq

outside Baghdad.]

*  Iraq Diary, Part 7: All guided up with nowhere to go [Pepe Escobar

having great difficulty seeing what he wants to see in Iraq, and writing

about the difficulties very frankly.]

BRITISH AND EUROPEAN OPINION

*  US-UK mutual admiration society set to oust Saddam

*  Iraq isn't our enemy [Comment by Richard Ingrams]

*  BBC under fire for airing Iraqi cancer claim 'propaganda' [Daily

Telegraph complaining about the BBC reporting on possible effects of DU

on cancer. Great play is made of the Royal Society investigation two

years ago. But this was exploring the possible effects on soldiers

handling DU in its solid state. The argument on Iraq turns on the effect

of inhaling it in fine powder form after an explosion. The paper sneers

that no respectable - ie western - scientists have examined the question,

'forgetting' that the Iraqi government had called for a full UN inquiry

and this was blocked by Britain and the US. So, on the whole, this

article is a pretty disgusting piece of work.]

*  Protesters demand Saddam overthrow [recent demo in London. They also

demanded an end to non- military sanctions]

*  Book casts doubt on SAS mission [Criticism of Andy McNab's Bravo Two

Zero].

*  Head to head: Action on Iraq [MPs pro and anti war on Iraq. Peter

Lilley, charged with expressing the pro view, is interestingly hesitant

about it all]

*  German Pol[itician] Speaks on U.S. Relations [Edmund Stoiber,

complaining that the German government is not sufficiently pro-American]

URLs ONLY

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=545811&in_re

iew_text_id=51177 5

*  Blair needs to learn a lesson about trust

by Peter Kellner

London Evening Standard, 8th April

[The article distinguishes between 'the Galloway gang', who are always

going to be opposed to the Crusade against Evil, and ordinary decent

Labour MPs who just want to be sure that nothing will be done illegally,

ie without the support of the UN. Mr Kellner assures the latter that that

is also Tony's position so everything's OK. He forgets that we went to

war against Serbia without UN permission. And that 'UN permission' means

permission of the UN Security Council, which means in this case, of

Russia, China and France. Is that likely to be forthcoming? Is Mr Bush

likely to care?]

http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3XSYBVSZC&live=t

ue& useoverrid etemplate=ZZZ99ZVV70C&tagid=ZZZPB7GUA0C&subheading =UK

*  Defiant Blair attacks critics of his Iraq stance

by Brian Groom

Political Editor Financial Times, 9th April

[Worth retaining this statement of Mr Blair's philosophy on political

debate: "People will make their judgments when we make our judgments."]

AND IN NEWS, 6-12/4/02 (3)

IRAQI/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (China, Australia, Ukraine)

*  Jiang Speaks Out in Favor of Iraq

*  We can't help US in Iraq: Labor [in Australia]

*  Kuchma 'arranged radar for Saddam' [Looks as though the Ukraine is

getting a prostitute parliament. On a point of detail: do the UNSC

resolutions really forbid Iraq from acquiring radar equipment which is,

quite clearly, purely defensive?]

NORTHERN IRAQ/SOUTHERN KURDISTAN

*  Al Qaeda terrorists target Iraqi Kurds [William Safire, now that the

Czech connection seems to have fizzled out in ignominy, is pushing the

Kurd Islamic fundamentalist connection for all it is worth.]

*  Status Quo Is Least Of Evils [Interesting extract suggesting that the

removal of S.Hussein might not have much to offer the Kurds in the

autonomous zone, though there is no mention of the Kurds still living

under Baghdad.]

*  Norwegians stuck in Iraq

IRAQI/MIDDLE EAST-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  A sea of blood ... a sip of coffee [Sydney Morning Herald account of

the distribution of Iraqi largesse to Palestinians which should have

appeared about a couple of weeks ago]

*  Syria - Iraq irrigation cooperation

*  Interview suggests better Iraq relations [Iraqi Vice President in the

Kuwaiti paper As Seyassah. Unfortunately very few details are given]

*  Saddam pledges $8.7 million aid to Palestinians [Includes the

following memorable quotation: '"The end of the Jews will be at the hands

of the people of Babylon (Iraq) and they (Israelis) well know it," Uday

said. The Palestinians "are twisting the arms of the Jews, but sooner or

later we, the inhabitants of Babylon, will break their necks," he

added.']

*  Pentagon, citing Iraq, plans radar sale to Jordan [A bizarre piece of

news. Any normal observer would think Jordan was much more threatened by

Israel than it is by Iraq (which has been keeping  it alive despite the

malice of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, by supplying it with free oil). Unless

the fear is of a general Iraqi push against Israel through Jordan? In

which case could the US really entrust such equipment to Jordanian hands?

Or are they really protecting Jordan against Israel without admitting

it?]

REFUGEES

*  Iraqis win refugee status but no guarantees

REMNANTS OF DECENCY

*  Local couple [in Vancouver] aims to end Iraqi sanctions

News, 12-19/4/02

This rather rough and ready news mailing is a week late owing to a jinx

operating against the news compiler or, more precisely, against a variety

of computers the news compiler is using. These problems, sorry to say,

are still continuing.

NEWS, 12-19/4/02 (1)

IRAQI/MIDDLE EASTERN-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Oman signs free-trade pact with Iraq

*  IRAN: 220 IRANIAN COMPANIES PARTICIPATE IN RECONSTRUCTING IRAQ

*  Call to raise voice for Iraqi children [Not before time that an

anti-sanctions movement should develope among Iraq's neighbours in the

Gulf.]

*  52 killed, 122 injured while defusing Iraqi mines: Official [in Iran]

* Daily comments on Saddam's blunder [Iranian argument that unilaterally

cutting off oil supply merely weakens the Arab/Muslim, and especially

Iraqi, hand.]

*  Egyptian trade fair opens in Baghdad

PROSPECTS FOR WAR

*  War is best road to peace [If a cess pit could talk, this is what it

would sound like. Easily wins the prize for most nauseating article of

the week.]

*  Iraq War: The Coming Disaster [I don't know who Immanuel Wallerstein

is. But he seems to be an intelligent conservative, attacking US

imperialist adventures from a point of view of US self interest and

proclaimed values. As things stand at the resent time such people are

rarer and more precious than diamonds. Note, for example, the following:

"the U.S. economic  position is not significantly better than that of

 the European Union or Japan. This relative  economic decline has cost

the U.S. the  unquestioned political deference of its close  allies. All

that is left is military superiority.  And, as Machiavelli taught us all

centuries ago,  force is not enough: If that's all you have, then  its

use is a sign of weakness rather than of  strength and weakens the user."

That's the sort of thing we don't hear very often.]

*  Our enemy's enemies [I share Nick Cohen's feeling that there is

something nasty about the way the CIA has been trashing the INC. Still,

when he says: "The  INC left me in no doubt that its guerrillas will

 carry on fighting if Saddam is replaced with  another dictator." one

wonders what "guerrillas" he is talking about. The only guerrillas in

sight are the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution, and somehow

Shi'i fundamentalist revolutionaries don't seem to be so much in favour

as they once were among the world's most powerful paymasters of terror.]

AND, IN NEWS, 12-19/4/02 (2)

*  Crisscrosses hamper arms inspection in Iraq [Extracts. The article

indicates very clearly that the "debate" between the Defense and the

State departments is about timing. not principle. The State Department

think (almost certainly rightly) that weapons inspections are a necessary

legal cover for the forthcoming war, useful for securing the necessary

general state of paranoia and inducing international compliance. The

Defense Department think (almost certainly rightly) that the mood in the

US is perfect for an immediate strike, and advantage should be taken of

it.]

*  Rumsfeld: Iraq Checks Not Worthwhile

*  Legality of intervention against Iraq [Letter to The Times in which

former diplomat, Sir Brian Barder, argues that military intervention

should always require the consent of the UN Security Council. Which would

be fine except that the UN Security Council, by putting the most powerful

countries in the world above the law, is not itself founded on any legal

principle that is worthy of respect. It occupies the position of an

"arbitrary monarch" (without even possessing the coherence of a real

monarch's will). Sir Brian goes on to say that to get the UNSC permission

for a strike (on the ludicrous pretext, which he takes very seriously, of

Iraqi military capacity) the US should renounce the aim of overthrowing

Saddam Hussein. Which is a monstrous proposal to make. I am deeply

opposed to the forthcoming war on Iraq but, if it is to be fought, it

MUST result in the end of sanctions. Which, given the intellectual

limitations of the current Masters of the Universe, will never happen so

long as Mr Hussein remains in power.]

*  Mideast distracts US from Iraq [Extract]

ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES

*  Oil is the reason America wants to be rid of Saddam [Argues that

European and US interests with regard to oil are different. As far as

Iraq is concerned, the US is anxious to keep it united (= Sunni

strongman) while Europe should be quite happy to see it split in three (=

popular rising). Doesn't have much to say about what people living in

Iraq might think about it all.]

*  If Military History Should Repeat Itself, Will The Markets And Economy

Follow Suit? [Argues that a war on Iraq shouldn't do much harm to the

stock market. So that's all right.]

*  Will the euro be a casualty of Blair's Iraq war? [Short extract]

AND, IN NEWS, 12-19/4/02 (3)

INSIDE IRAQ

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 8: Ghosts [Pepe Escobar]

*  IRAQ DIARY, Part 9: The voice of a Baghdad Palestinian [Pepe Escobar]

MINDLESS PARANOIA

*  Iraq warnings prompt rush to order vaccine

*  Iraqis 'could turn camel virus into bio-weapon'

IRAQI/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

*  Washington's Chavez dilemma [Not a lot to do with Iraq but we include

this and the following just for the pleasure that this incident has given

us.]

*  Oil rises as OPEC champion Chavez returns to power

*  U.S. Planes Met With Iraqi Fire [US/British airstrikes start up again]

*  European peace delegation arrives in Baghdad

*  Jasmine rice for Iraq [from Thailand]

*  60,000 tons wheat being exported to Iraq [from Pakistan]

News, 19-26/4/02

These mailings have been largely justified these past weeks by the Pepe

Escobar pieces, so sorry I seem to be missing number eleven this time (it

could easily be found by going to the website addresses of the other

ones). Perhaps it will appear next time, but next time threatens to be

even later than usual, since my problems are not yet at an end. Otherwise

note the scandalous expulsion of Jose Bustani from the UN Chemical

Weapons inspection body as the most important event of the week.

MILITARY MATTERS

*  RAF and US warplanes bomb Iraq

*  British pilots face more Iraqi missiles [poor dears]

*  Size of force on ground key in plan for Iraq war [Includes the idea

that many Arab leaders told Richard Cheney privately that they would

support a strike against Iraq. UAE, Qatar and/or Oman would provide the

necessary landing strips. Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has recently

gone to Crawford, Texas for five hours of talks with Mr Bush. All this

implies that these leaders are lying outrageously to their own people.

The champions of freedom and democracy don't seem to find anything here

that is objectionable.]

OIL POLITICS

*  Senate kills Bush's plan for Alaska drilling

*  Iraq to propose OPEC candidate

*  Iraq Diary Part 10: Using the oil weapon [Pepe Escobar]

*  Iraq oil deal not probed [On the effects of the boycott on the recent

contract with South Africa]

AND IN NEWS, 19-26/4/02 (2)

IRAQI/MIDDLE EAST-ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Saddam Hussein, Yasser Arafat and the dynamism of the Arab street

[Article from Lebanese Daily Star arguing that the US and Israel, who

complain that the Arabs are incorrigible religious fanatics, are the very

ones who destroyed the chances of the once very lively Arab liberal

secular democracy. Finds a source of hope in the liveliness of Arab

democracy in the form of "the street".]

*  Egyptian trade fair opens in Baghdad

*  Iraq, Somalia, Sudan owe $595m to AMF [Arab Monetary Fund]

*  Iraq gives cash for lost homes

*  New border openings between Saudi Arabia, Iraq

IRAQI/US RELATIONS

*  Bush wants death for 'spy who offered secrets to Iraq'

*  Jacksonvillians aim to collect $18.8M judgment against Iraq for prison

terms [A Mr Daliberti, traumatised by four months in an Iraqi jail, was

upset on September 11th and is demanding millions of dollars compensation

from the Iraqi government, without much consideration for the traumas

experienced by the inhabitants of Baghdad and Basra at seeing the

destruction of the entire infrastructure of their country. Question. If

the US succeeds in installing a puppet government in Iraq will it be

obliged to pay these compensation claims which the world would be

treating with justifiable derision if they were advanced in any country

other than the US?]

*  Spy Trial for Retired Officer Is Postponed

AND IN NEWS, 19-26/4/02 (3)

NORTHERN IRAQ/SOUTHERN KURDISTAN

*  Top 2 Kurdish factions in Iraq met with U.S. on Hussein ouster [One

would have thought that by now the Baltimore Sun would know that the

Kurds are NOT "the only armed Iraqi opposition groups." The only armed

Iraqi opposition group actually active in Iraq (the Kurds in the

autonomous zone are doing nothing to help their brothers still living

under the oppression of the Iraqi government in the area reound Kirkuk)

is the Shi"i fundamentalist SCIRI. Somehow the US doesn't seem to want to

acknowledge the existence of a radical Islamist opposition to SH. It

rather confuses their simple notions of Good and Evil. Another curious

thing to note: "Barzani and Talabani also discussed with US officials

plans for merging their two governments." We keep on being told that the

problems between them are resolved and that a united administration has

been formed ...]

*  Islamic militants find haven in Iraq [The article leaves one with the

impression that this Kurdish fundamentalist group - William Safire's

current best hope of finding a Saddam/Al Qaida link - is quite marginal

and undefined.]

IRAQI/UN RELATIONS

*  US forces ouster of UN body's chief [Dismissal of Jose Bustani for

trying to arrange a politically neutral system of chemical weapons

inspections. Dawn and The Guardian say only 6 or 7 countries voted

against US pressure while 43 moral cowards of the first order abstained.

The Washington Times says 43 voted against the US while only 6 abstained.

It all seems very odd after he had been unanimously reappointed last year

and won a no-confidence motion only last month. What new pressures were

brought to bear by the Masters of "International Law"?]

*  Anti-Chemical Chief Sacked [This to some extent tries to answer the

above question.]

*  UN-Iraq talks to start on May 1

IRAQI/BRITISH RELATIONS

*  Brown accuses PM over "gung-ho" Iraq policy

*  Iraq dossier not pulled, says PM

AND IN NEWS, 19-26/4/02 (4)

INSIDE IRAQ

*  Business as usual in Iraq [First of an, I think, rather good series of

on-the-spot reports from the BBC's Kim Ghattas]

*  Iraq's middle class wiped out [BBC]

*  Saddam: Sentimental, terrifying and ruthless [Account of an in-depth

psychological study of President Hussein in the Atlantic Monthly. It was

written by the author of Black Hawk Down which doesn't augur well for a

sophisticated understanding of international affairs. To judge from this

review its just a rehash of material from pretty familiar sources.]

*  Iraqis seek refuge in religion [BBC. It seems that the Iraqi

government is engaged in "an attempt to use religion to try to erase

religious differences inside Iraq" which is an interesting sociological

experiment.]

*  Play goes on for Saddam, still the survivor at 65

*  Iraq Diary Part 12: The Carthaginian solution [All Pepe Escobar's

articles on Iraq have been worth reading but here he really hits his

stride. He is helped by a splendid quotation from Noam Chomsky on the

desirability of reducing the population size of oil producing countries.

An article to be cut out and framed on the wall.]

IRAQI/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

*  Belgian MP confers with Iraqi officials

News, 27/4‚11/5/02 (titles)

This mailing covers the last two weeks, when nothing was sent owing to

continuing problems with computers etc. I hope these are now being

resolved, but there's many a slip ... The fortnight saw the end of the

Iraqi oil export stoppage, postponement of discussions with the UN over

return of the inspectors and 'smart sanctions', President Hussein's

birthday, apparent abandonment of the Prague connection (and with it the

chances of proving an Iraqi/Al Qaida link), and great confusion over the

policy to be pursued with regard to the Iraqi opposition.

IRAQI-UN RELATIONS

*  Annan Reports Progress in Iraq Talks

*  Security Council vote on Iraq sanctions delayed

IRAQIS OUTSIDE IRAQ

*  Saddam agents in Australia: exiles

*  The exiles [A long article. I have given extracts on the British

mandate and on politics among the Iraqi exile community.]

IRAQI OPPOSITION

*  Iraqi Opposition Group Halts TV Broadcast

*  Harassing the Iraqi National Congress [Extracts. Some still rather

vague background details suggesting that the shutdown of the INC radio

was a result of State department opposition. Apparently the SD wants to

support the Middle East Institute, but its director has declared that Mr

Bush's 'axis of evil' phrase is ridiculous. Since the INC is supposed to

include the Iran-backed SCIRI, we may assume that's what they think too

but in the Land of Free Speech you don't get grants for saying what you

think ...]

*  US action on Iraq slowed by rift over whom to support [Fuller account

of the problems surrounding support for an Iraqi opposition and on the

conference that was much talked about a few months ago, which was

supposed to show that there was a coherent and credible alternative to

Saddam. Not stressed here that it was supposed to consist mainly of Sunni

military men (or was that another conference?). We learn in passing that

the INC advocate 'a constructive policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict'.

What, we wonder, does that mean, and is it likely to enhance the groups

democratic credentials within Iraq?]

THE PRAGUE (DIS)CONNECTION

*  Newsweek: Czech Officials Say Story That Sept. 11 Hijacker Atta Met

with Iraqi [Its taken quite a long time for this to get out, though it

should have been obvious six months ago to anyone following these

newsmailings.]

*  Czechs assert Atta met with Iraqi spy [Its still just an assertion

that he was in Prague in April 2001, still no apparently convincing

evidence.]

CULTURAL MATTERS

*  Baghdad's 'flourishing' art scene [But why, if Iraq "is the 'cradle of

civilizations', once home to the Sumerians, the Assyrians, Abbasids and

others" should Iraqi artists boast of going to Europe to learn to paint,

especially since the best European art of the century has been an effort

to recover the values that were current among 'the Sumerians, the

Assyrians, Abbasids and others'.]

*  British Museum welcomes Iraq library project

IRAQI-MIDDLE EAST/ARAB WORLD RELATIONS

*  Oman: Baghdad will not be bombarded from our lands

*  Moussa: Iraq will return back archives and documents for Kuwait

TRADE

*  Iraqi oil shipments to start tomorrow: Official

*  U.S. probes cigarette sales to Iraq

AND, IN NEWS, 27/4‚11/5/02 (2)

IRAQI-UK RELATIONS

*  Blair says no attack on Iraq without UN assent

*  Tory Warns of Attacks on Iraq [First glimmerings of thought on this

matter within the Tory Party?]

*  Caged for 90 years: Real IRA trio plotted deal with Saddam [This Real

IRA/British Intelligence fantasy seems to be the closest we're going to

get to any recent Iraqi terrorist activity in the US or UK.]

INSIDE IRAQ

*  Inside a vile republic [Iraqi defector's tales.Supported by Charles

Duelfer so they must be true. But isn't it stretchng things a little to

say: 'Saddam's tyranny trains and finances Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic

fundamentalist movement. According to the defector, it was Iraq which

taught Hamas how to make bombs.' Is there no-one in Saudi Arabia who

knows how to make bombs? Haven't the Palestinians themselves a fairly

impressive track record in the field?]

*  Happy birthday Mr President. But your party masks a nation living in

fear [Guardian]

*  Farming sector under biological attack says Iraq

*  Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Al-Hakim [Obituary for Shi'ite leader.]

*  Millions of Shiite flux into al-Najaf, Karbalaa

*  Inside Saddam's World [Very long account of life in Iraq. Rather short

on political analysis. Extracts.]

*  'Happy are those' who see sites in Iraq

*  The Road of Death remembered [The massacre on the road to Basra, which

still hasn't found an adequate chronicler.]

IRAQI-US RELATIONS

URL ONLY: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/10/1021002391082.html

*  The siege of Baghdad by Gay Alcorn Sydney Morning Herald, 11th May [A

very long article summarising the present state of US policy but not I

think adding very much to our knowledge on the subject. Concludes with

the remarkable statement from ex-Clinton adviser, Kenneth Pollack that

Saddam 'has threatened or attacked every single one of Iraq's

neighbours.' Really? Syria?, Jordan?, Saudi Arabia?, Turkey?]